UC-NRLF 


B    3    331    TSS 


II 


^p  C|)omafii  ^ailep  ^tlUricI) 


WORKS.     Riverside  Edition.     9  vols. 
I.  II.   POEMS 

III.  MARJORIE  DAW  AND  OTHER  STORIES. 

IV.  PRUDENCE    PALFREY,    AND    A    RIVERMOUTH    RO- 

MANCE. 

V.  THE    QUEEN    OF    SHEBA,    AND    OTHER    STORIES. 

VI    THE    STILLWATER    TRAGEDY. 
VII    THE    STORY    OF    A    BAD    BOY,    AND    THE    LITTLE 

VIOLINIST,    WITH    OTHER    SKETCHES 
Vm.   FROM    PONKAPOG  TO  PESTH,  AND  AN   OLD  TOWN 
BY    THE    SEA. 
IX.    PONKAPOG     PAPERS,    A    SEA    TURN     AND    OTHER 
MATTERS. 
POEMS.     Riverside  Edition.     2  vols. 

THE    SAME.     Household  Editio}i.     Illustrated. 

THE    SAME.     Popular  Editto7i.     Illustrated. 
THE    SHADOWS    OF    THE    FLOWERS.      Illustrated. 
JUDITH    AND    HOLOFERNES.     A  Poem 
UNGUARDED    GATES    AND    OTHER    POEMS. 
WYNDHAM    TOWERS.     A  Poem 

THE    SISTERS'    TRAGEDY,    AND    OTHER    POEMS. 
MERCEDES,     A  Drama  in  Two  Acts. 
LATER    LYRICS. 

JUDITH    OF    BETHULIA.     A  Tragedy. 
A    SEA    TURN    AND    OTHER    MATTERS. 
MARJORIE    DAW.     Holiday  Edition. 

THE    SAME.     Cambridge  Classics. 
THE    STORY    OF    A    BAD    BOY.     Illustrated. 

THE    SAME.    Holiday  Edition      Illustrated  by  A.  B.  Frost. 

THE    SAME.     Visitors'  Edition.      Illustrated 
TWO    BITES    AT    A    CHERRY    AND    OTHER    TALES. 
AN    OLD    TOWN    BY    THE    SEA. 
PRUDENCE    PALFREY.     With  frontispiece. 
THE    QUEEN    OF    SHE=iA 
THE    STILLWATER    TRAGEDY. 
PONKAPOG    PAPERS 
FROM    PONKAPOG    TO    PESTH. 
THE    STORY    OF    A    CAT      Translated  from  the   French  of 

Emile  de  la  Bedolli^re.     Illustrated. 


HOUGHTON    MIFFLIN   COMPANY 
Boston  and  New  York 


THE 


STORY   OF  A   CAT 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH  OF 


^MILE  DE  LA  BEBOLLIERE 


T.  B.  ALDRICH. 


WITH   MANY  DESIGNS  LN  SILHOUETTE  BY  HOPKINS. 


BOSTON    AND    NEW    YORK 
HOUGHTON  MIFFLIN  COMPANY 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

How  Mother  Michel  made  the  Acquaintance  of  her  Cat  ...      7 

CHAPTER  n. 
How  the  Cat  was  installed  with  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere,  and 

CONFIDED   TO   THE   CaRE    OF   MOTHER   MiCHEL 18 

CHAPTER   HI. 

In  which  are  shown  the  Goodness  of  Mother  Michel  and  the 
Wickedness  of  Father  Llstucru 28 

CHAPTER  IV. 
In  which  the  Cat  displays  Intelligence  beyond  his  Station  in  Life 

AND    behaves    handsomely    IN    ADVERSITY 38 

CHAPTER  V. 
In  WHICH  THE  Cat    contends  successfully  against  his  Enemy    .        .    51 

CHAPTER  VI. 

How  Father  Lustucru  confides  his  odious  Plans  to  Nicholas  Fari- 
bole 62 

CHAPTER  VII. 

In  which  Father  Lustucru  is  on  the  Point  of  accomplishing  his 
Purpose,  and  Mother  Michel's  Cat  is  in  an  unpleasant  Predic- 
ament     74 


ii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
In  which  Mother  Michel  searches  for  her  Cat        ....        81 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Which  is  satisfactory  to  Everybody  but  the  Guilty  .        .       .       .91 


LIST  OF  SILHOUETTES. 


Page 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  1 7 

The  Countess  distributes  Ahns 8 

The  Ape  fatally  exposes  Himself 9 

Her  Friends  propose  Squirrels,  Canaries,  Mice,  etc 9 

The  Boys  after  the  Cat 10 

The  Luckless  Creature  bowed  his  Head 12 

"  Dear  me,  how  Homely  he  is  !  " 13 

The  Cat  presented  half  dead  to  the  Countess 14 

Mother  Michel  is  told  to  take  the  Cat 17 

Mother  Michel IS 

Father  Lustucru 19 

"Oh.  the  Beautiful  Cat  I  " 20 

The  Cat  is  washed 21 

The  Old  Scholar  looks  for  a  Name 22 

The  Cat  grows  Fat 22 

He  will  take  nothing  from  the  Steward 22 

He  crouches  in  a  Corner  of  the  Hearth 23 

"  I  depart  To-morrow  I  " 24 

"In  her  Youth  she  caressed  a  Kitten  " 24 

"Mother  Michel,  I  contide  my  Cat  to  you  " 25 

The  Post-chaise  is  ready         .         .         .         , 26 

The  Cat  wishes  to  go  with  the  Carriage 27 

Monmouth  Faints 27 

"He  shall  Die!" 27 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  HI 28 

Father  Lustucru's  Stratagem 30 

Tlie  Porter 30 

The  Steward  seizes  Monmouth 31 

The  Cat  is  plunged  into  the  Basket .{2 

The  Steward  hurries  away 32 

He  dances  with  Delight 32 

The  Cat  is  thrown  into  the  River 33 

Mother  Michel  looks  for  the  Cat 34 


iv  LIST  OF  SILHOUETTES. 

She  knocks  at  the  Steward's  Door 35 

Every  Nook  and  Corner  is  ransacked 36 

The  Shock  is  too  much  for  Mother  Michel 37 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  IV 38 

"Agreed !"  said  M.  Guignolet 39 

The  Fishermen  pursue  the  Cat 40 

Monmouth  grapples  the  Lines 41 

The  Imprudent  Mouse 42 

•♦Don't  hurt  Him!  "  said  the  Baker 42 

Monmouth  jumps  out  of  the  Window 43 

All  the  Street  Dogs  pursue  Moumouth 44 

He  meets  a  Bull-dog 45 

He  climbs  a  Wall 46 

Mother  Michel  laments 46 

Father  Lustucru  dreams 47 

Mother  Michel  encounters  nothing  but  Rats 48 

She  searches  the  Attic 49 

"It  is  he!  It  is  he  !"  cried  Mother  Michel 49 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  V.       .         • 51 

Lustucru  meditates 52 

The  Green  Package 53 

"  Come,  let  us  go !  " 54 

Moumouth  Is  pleased  to  see  the  Hash 55 

He  sniffs  with  Disgust 56 

"Don't  touch  it,  I  beg  of  you"         • 56 

The  Fatal  Plate  remains  forgotten 57 

Louis  XIV 58 

Downfall  of  Louis  XIV 59 

Lustucru  appears 59 

Moumouth  comes  forth 6») 

^Mother  Michel  is  revived 61 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  VI 62 

The  Old  Woman  and  the  Bo\' 63 

Lustucru  is  absorbed 64 

The  Boy  on  the  Stone  Post 64 

The  Steward  engages  Faribole 66 

A  little  awkward  at  first 67 

The  Cat  and  the  Boy  become  Friends 67 

Lustucru  and  Faribole 69 

Faribole's  Old  Clothes 70 

Only  one  is  kept;  the  rest  are  tossed  into  the  River 71 

"Get  up!  Depart!" 72 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  VII 74 

The  Steward  lifted  his  Cudgel 76 

Making  a  Speaking-trumpet  of  hi^J  Hand 77 

The  Countess  embraces  Mother  Michel .78 


LIST  OF  SILHOUETTES.  V 

Faribole  seated  in  the  Garden 79 

Initial  Letter,  Ciiap.  VlII 81 

Mother  Michel  pays  Three  Crowns 84 

The  Fortune-teller  consults  her  Cards 8G 

Moumouth  appears 87 

"Do  not  ruin  me,  I  conjure  you  !  " 88 

Lustucru  assisted  at  this  touching  Scene DO 

Initial  Letter,  Chap.  IX 91 

Faribole  Explains        ...  92 

Faribole  is  treated  Roughly  on  the  Staircase 94 

A  celebrated  Chemist  analyzes  the  Hash 9.") 

The  Fate  of  the  Steward 96 

Lustucru  flies 97 

IMother  Michel's  Cottage ,        .        .  98 

Moumouth  and  his  Family         . 99 


THE   STORY  OF  A  CAT. 


CHAPTER   I. 

HOW   MOTHER   MICHEL    MADE    THE    ACQUAINTANCE    OF 

HER    CAT. 


HERE  lived  in  Paris,  under  the 
reign  of  King  Louis  XY.,  a  very 
ricii  old  countess  named  Yolande 
de  la  Grenouillere.  She  was  a 
worthy  and  charitable  lady,  who 
distributed  alms  not  only  to  the 
poor  of  her  own  parish,  Saint- 
Germain-l'Auxerrois,  but  to  the 
unfortunate  of  other  quarters. 
Her  husband,  Roch-Eustache- 
Jeremie,  Count  of  Grenouillere, 
liad  fallen  ulorior*t^ly  at  the  battle  of  Fontenoy,  on 
the  11th  of  May,  1745.  The  noble  widow  had  long 
mourned  for  him,  and  even  now  at  times  wept  over 
his  death.  Left  without  children,  and  almost  en- 
tirely alone  in  the  world,  she  gave  herself  up  to  a 
strange   fancy,  —  a  fancy,  it    is    true,   which    in   no 


8/ 


':tiif:/.^TQhv  OF  a  cat. 


manner  detracted  from  her  real  virtues  and  admi- 
rable qualities :  she  had  a  passion  for  animals.  And 
an  unhappy  passion  it  was,  since  all  those  she  had  pos- 
sessed had  died  in  her  arms. 

The  first,  in    date,  in    her    affections    had  been  a 
green  parrot,  which,  having  been  so  imprudent  as  to 


The   Countess   (distributes   Alms 


eat  some  parsley,  fell  a  victim  to  frightful  colics.  An 
indigestion,  caused  by  sweet  biscuits,  had  taken  from 
Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  a  pug-dog  of  the  most 
brilliant  promise.  A  third  favorite,  an  ape  of  a  very 
interesting  species,  having  broken  his  chain  one  night, 
went  clambering  over  the  trees  in  the  garden,  where, 
during  a  shower,  he  caught  a  cold  in  the  head,  which 
conducted  him  to  the  tomb. 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


9 


Following  these,  the  Countess  had  birds  of  divers 
kinds;  but  some  of  them  had  flown  away,  and  the 
others  had  died  of  the 
pip.  Cast  down  by 
such  contniuous  dis-  ^^^J"~^. 
asters,  Madame  de  la 
Grenou  ill  tire  shed 
many  tears.  Seeing 
her  inconsolable,  the 
friends  of  the  Count- 
ess proposed  success- 
ively squirrels,  learned  v 
canaries,  w^hite  mice, 
cockatoos ;  but  she 
would  not  listen  to 
them ;  she  even  re- 
fused a  superb  spaniel 
who  played  dominoes, 
danced  to  music,  ate  salad,  and  translated  Greek. 


The   Ape   fatally  exposes   himself. 


"  No,  no,"  she  said,  "  I  do  not  want  any  more  ani- 
mals;  the  air  of  my  house  is  death  to  them." 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  11 

She  had  ended  by  believing  in  fatality. 

One  day,  as  the  Countess  was  leaving  the  church, 
she  saw  a  crowd  of  boys  hustling  and  elbowing  each 
other,  and  giving  vent  to  peals  of  joyous  laughter. 
When,  seated  in  her  carriage,  she  was  able  to  over- 
look the  throng,  she  discovered  that  the  cause  of  this 
tumult  was  a  poor  cat  to  whose  tail  the  little  wretches 
had  tied  a  tin  saucepan. 

The  unfortunate  cat  had  evidently  been  running 
a  long^  time,  for  he  seemed  overcome  with  fatio;ne. 
Seeuig  that  he  slackened  his  speed,  his  tormentors 
formed  a  circle  around  him,  and  began  pelting  him 
with  stones.  The  luckless  creature  bowed  his  head, 
and,  recognizing  that  he  was  surrounded  by  none  but 
enemies,  resigned  himself  to  his  hard  fate  with  the 
heroism  of  a  Roman  senator.  Several  stones  had  al- 
ready reached  him,  when  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere, 
seized  with  deep  compassion,  descended  from  her  car- 
riage, and,  pushing  the  crowd  aside,  exclaimed:  "I 
will  give  a  louis  to  whoever  will  save  that  animal  !  " 

These  words  produced  a  magical  effect ;  they  trans- 
formed the  persecutors  into  liberators ;  the  poor  cat 
came  near  being  suffocated  by  those  who  now  dis- 
puted the  honor  of  rescuing  him  safe  and  sound. 
Finally,  a  sort  of  young  Hercules  overthrew  his  rivals, 
brought  off  the  cat,  and  presented  it  half  dead  to  the 
Countess. 

"  Very  well,"  she  said ;  "  here,  my  brave  little 
man,  is  the  reward  I  promised."     She    gave  him  a 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


13 


bright  golden  louis  just  out  of  the  mint,  and  then 
added,  '•  ReUeve  this  poor  animal  of  his  inconvenient 
burden." 

While  the  young  Hercules  obeyed,  Madame  de  la 
Grenouillere  regarded  the  creature  she  had  rescued. 
It  was  a  true  type  of  the  street-cat.  His  natural 
hideousness  was  increased  by  the  accidents  of  a  long 


Dear   me,    how   honreiy   he   is  !  " 


and  irregular  career  ;  his  short  hair  was  soiled  with 
mud  ;  one  could  scarcely  distinguish  beneath  the  vari- 
ous splashes  his  gray  fur  robe  striped  with  black. 
He  was  so  thin  as  to  be  nearly  transparent,  so 
shrunken  that  one  could  count  his  ribs,  and  so  dis- 
pirited that  a  mouse  might  have  beaten  him.  There 
was  only  one  thing  in  his  flivor,  and  that  was  his 
physiognomy. 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT.  15 

'^  Dear  me,  how  homely  he  is  ! "  said  Madame  dc  la 
Grenonillere,  after  finishing  her  examination. 

At  the  moment  she  stepped  into  the  carriage,  the 
cat  fixed  his  great  sea-green  eyes  npon  her  and  gave 
her  a  look,  strange,  indefinable,  fidl  at  the  same  time 
of  gratitude  and  reproach,  and  so  expressive  that  the 
good  lady  was  instantly  fiiscinated.  She  read  in  this 
glance  a  discourse  of  great  eloquence.  The  look 
seemed  to  wish  to  say, — 

"  You  have  obeyed  a  generous  impulse ;  you  saw 
me  feeble,  suffering,  oppressed,  and  you  took  pity  on 
me.  Now  that  your  benevolence  is  satisfied,  my  de- 
formity inspires  you  with  contempt.  I  thought  you 
were  good,  but  you  are  not  good ;  you  have  the  in- 
stinct of  kindness,  but  you  are  not  kind.  If  you 
were  really  charitable  you  would  continue  to  interest 
yourself  in  me  for  the  very  reason  that  I  am  homely ; 
you  would  reflect  that  my  misfortunes  are  owing  to 
my  ugly  appearance,  and  that  the  same  cause, — 
should  you  leave  me  there  in  the  street,  at  the  mercy 
of  the  wicked  boys,  —  the  same  cause,  T  say,  would 
produce  the  same  effects.  Go!  you  needn't  pride 
yourself  on  your  half-way  benevolence  !  —  you  have 
not  done  me  a  service  ;  you  have  only  prolonged  my 
agony.  I  am  an  outcast,  the  whole  world  is  against 
me,  I  am  condemned  to  die  ;  let  my  destiny  be  ac- 
complished !  " 

Madame  de  la  Grenouillbre  was  moved  to  tears. 
The  cat  seemed  to  her  superhuman  —  no,  it  was  a 


16  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

cat ;  it  seemed  to  her  superanimal !  She  thought  of 
the  mysteries  of  transformation,  and  imagined  that 
the  cat,  before  assuming  his  present  form,  had  been 
a  great  orator  and  a  person  of  standing.  She  said  to 
lier  maid,  Mother  Michel,  who  was  in  the  carriage,  — 

"  Take  the  cat  and  carry  him." 

"  What,  you  will  bring  him  with  you,  madame  ?  " 
cried  Mother  Michel. 

"  Certainly.  As  long  as  I  live  that  animal  shall 
have  a  place  at  my  fireside  and  at  my  table.  If  you 
wish  to  please  me,  you  will  treat  him  with  the  same 
zeal  and  affection  you  show  to  myself" 

"  Madame  shall  be  obeyed." 

''  That  is  well,  —  and  now  for  home  !  " 


CHAPTER  II. 

now  THE  CAT  WAS  INSTALLED  WITH  MADAME  DE  LA 
GRENOUILLERE,  AND  COXFIDED  TO  THE  CARE  OF 
MOTHER     MICHEL. 

Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  inhabited  a  mag- 
nifice^xt  mansion  sitnated  on  the  corner  of  the  streets 
Saint- Thomas  -  du-Lonvre  and  Orties- 
Saint-Louis ;  there  she  led  a  very  re- 
tired hfe,  on  ahnost  intimate  terms  with 
her  two  principal  domestics,  —  Madame 
Michel,  her  maid  and  companion,  and 
M.  Lustucrn,  the  steward.  These  serv- 
ants being  elderly  persons,  the  Countess, 
who  was  possessed  of  a  pleasant  humor, 
had  christened  them  Mother  Michel  and 
Father  Lustucru. 

The  features  of  Mother  Michel  bore 

the  imprint  of  her  amiable  disposition  ; 

she  was  as  open  and  candid  as  Father 

Lustucru    was    slv    and    dissimulatino;. 

Mother  Michel       Tlic  plausiblc  air  of  the  steward  might 

deceive  persons  without  much  experience  ;  but  close 

observers  could  easily  discover  the  most  perverse  in- 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT.  19 

clinations  under  his  false  mask  of  good  nature.  There 
was  duplicity  in  his  great  blue  eyes,  anger  concen- 
trated in  his  nostrils,  something  wily  in  the  end  of 
his  tapering  nose,  and  malice  in  the  shape  of  his 
lips. 

However,  this  man  had  never,  in  appearance,  at 
least,  done  anything  to  forfeit  his  honor ;  he  had  been 
able  to  guard  an  outside  air  of  honesty,  hiding  very 
carefully  the  blackness  of  his  nature.  His  wickedness 
was  like  a  mine  to  which 
one  has  not  yet  applied  the 
match,  —  it  waited  only  for 
an  occasion  to  Hash  out. 

Lustucru  detested  ani- 
mals, but,  in  order  to  flatter 
the  taste  of  his  mistress,  he 
pretended  to  idolize  them. 
On  seeing  Mother  Michel 
bearino^  in  her  arms  the  res- 
cued  cat,  he  said  to  himself: 

'^  What,  another  beast ! 
As  if  there  were  not  enouo;h 

of    US    in    the    house  I    "  ^^'''''   Lustucru 

He  could  not  help  throwing  a  glance  of  antipathy 
at  the  new-comer  ;  then,  curbing  himself  quickly,  he 
cried,  with  an  afiected  admiration.  — 

'^  Oh,  the  beautiful  cat  I  the  pretty  cat !  that  cat 
has  n't  his  equal  I  "  —  and  he  caressed  it  in  the  most 
perfidious  fashion. 


20 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


"  Truly  ?  "  said  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  ;  "  you 
do  not  find  him  too  homely  ?  " 


Oh,  the   Beautiful   Cat 


"  Too  homely  !  But,  then,  he  has  charming  eyes. 
But,  if  he  was  frightful,  your  interesting  yourself  in 
him  would  change  him." 

"  He  displeased  me  at  first." 

"  The  beings  who  displease  at  first  are  those  one 
loves  the  most  after  awhile,"  replied  Father  Lustucru, 
sententiously. 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


21 


They  proceeded  at  once  to  make  the  toilet  of  the 
cat,  who,  m  spite  of  his  instinctive  horror  of  water, 
submitted  with  touching  resignation  to  being  washed  ; 
he  seemed  to  understand  that  it  improved  his  per- 
sonal appearance.  After  giving  him  a  dish  of  broken 
meat,  which  he  ate  with  great  relish,  they  arranged 
the  hours  for  his  meals,  the  employment  of  his  days, 
and  the  place  where  he  was  to  sleep. 


The   Ca 


shed. 


They  thought  also  to  give  him  a  name.  Mother 
Michel  and  Father  Lustucru  proposed  several  that 
were  quite  happy,  such  as  Mistigris,  Tristepatte,  etc.  ; 
but  the  Countess  rejected  them  all  successively.  She 
desired  a  name  that  would  recall  the  circumstances  in 
which  the  cat  was  found.  An  old  scholar,  whom  she 
consulted  the  next  day,  suggested  that  of  Monmouth, 
com|X)sed  of  two  Hebrew  words  which  signify  sailed 
from  saitcepans. 


22 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


The   Cat   grows   Fat. 


At  the  end  of  a  few  days,  Moumouth  was  unrecog- 
nizable. His  fur  was  polished  with  care  ;  nourishing 
food  had  filled 
out  his  form ; 
his  mustaches 
stood  up  like 
those  of  a 
swordsman  of 
the  seventeenth  century 
shone  as  emeralds.  He  was  a  liv- 
ing proof  of  the  influence  of  good 
fare  upon  tlie  race.  He  owed  his 
excellent  condition  chiefly  to 
Mother  Michel,  whoui  he  held  in 
affectionate  consideration;  he 
showed,  on  the  other  hand,  for  Father  Lustucru  a 
very  marked  dislike.     As  if  he  had  divined  that  here 


his 


eyes 


The  Old   Scholar   looks  for   a 
Name. 


He  will  take   Nothing  from  the   Steward. 


he  had  to  do  with  an  enemy,  he  refused  to   accept 
anything  presented  by  the  steward.     However,  they 


THE    STORY   OF  A    (AT. 


23 


saw  but  little  of  each  other.  The  days  passed  very 
happily  with  Monmouth,  and  everything  promised  a 
smiling  future  for  him  ;  but,  like  the  sword  of  Damo- 
cles, troubles  are  ever  suspended  above  the  heads 
of  men  and  of  cats.  On  the  24th  of  January,  1753, 
an  unusual  sadness  was  observed  in  Moumouth ; 
he  scarcely  responded  to  the  caresses  which  Madame 
de  la  Grenouillere  lavished  upon  him;  he  ate  noth- 
ing, and  spent  the  day  crouched  on  a  corner  of  the 
hearth,  gazing  mournfully   into  the   fire.     He  had  a 


He   crouches    ir,   a   Corner  of  the    Hearth. 


presentiment  of  some  misfortune,  and  the  misfortune 
came. 

That  night  a  messenger,  sent  fi'om  the  Chateau  de 
la  Gingeole  in  Normandy,  brought  a  letter  to  the 
Countess  from  her  younger  sister,  who,  having  broken 
a  leg  in  getting  out  of  her  carriage,  begged  the 
Countess,  her  only  relative,  to  come  to  her  at  once. 
Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  was  too  sympathetic  and 
kind-hearted  to  hesitate  an  instant. 

'•  I  depart  to-morrow,"  said  she. 


24 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


m^ 


"  In  her  Youth  she 
caressed  a  Kitten." 


"  I   depart   To-morrow  !  " 

mals  of  your  species 
eroiis.     What   slander ! 


At  these  words,  Moumouth,  who  follow^ed  his  bene- 
factress with   his 
ej^es,  gave  a  mel- 
ancholy miau. 

"  Poor  cat !  " 
resumed  the  lady, 
with  emotion,  "•  it 
is  necessary  that  we  should 
be  separated  !  I  cannot  bring 
you  with  me,  for  my  sister 
has  the  Aveakness  to  hate  ani- 
she  pretends  they  are  treach- 
In  her  youth  she  caressed 
a  kitten,  who,  too  much  excited  by  marks  of  affection, 
scratched  her  involuntarily.  Was  it  from  wicked- 
ness? No,  it  was  from  sensibility.  However,  since 
that  day  my  sister  has  sworn  an  eternal  hatred  for 
cats." 

Moumouth  regarded  his  mistress  with  an  air  which 
seemed  to  say,  — 

'^  But  you.  at  least,  you  do  us  justice,  truly  supe- 
rior woman  !  " 

After   a  moment   of  silence    and    meditation,  the 
Countess  added, — 

"  Mother  Michel,  I  confide  my  cat  to  you." 
"  We  will  take  good  care  of  him,  madame,"  said 
Father  Lustucru. 

"  Don't  you  trouble    yourself  about  him,  I    pray 
you,"  interrupted   the  Countess.     "  You    know  that 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT 


25 


he  has  taken  a  dislike  to  you  ;  your  presence  merely 
is  sufficient  to  irritate  him.  Why,  1  don't  know  ;  but 
you  are  insupportable  to  him." 

'^  That  is  true,"  said  Father  Lustucru,  with  contri- 
tion ;  ''  but  the  cat  is  unjust,  for  1  love  him  and  he 
does  n't  love  me." 


Mother    Michel,    I    confide    my   Cat   to  you.' 


"  My  sister  is  also  unjust.  Cats,  perhaps,  love  her, 
and  she  does  not  love  them.  I  respect  her  opinion. 
Respect  that  of  Monmouth."  Having  pronounced 
these  words  in  a  firm  tone,  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere 
addressed  herself  to  Mother  Michel. 

''  It  is  to  you,  Mother  Michel,  and  to  you  alone, 
that  I  confide  him.  Return  him  to  me  safe  and 
sound,  and  I  will  cover  you  with  benefits.  I  am 
sixty-five  years  of  age,  you  are  ten  years  younger ; 
it  is  probable  that  you  will  live  to  close  my  eyes  "  — 

"  Ah,  madame  !  why  such  sorrowful  ideas  ?  " 

"  Let  me  finish.  To  guard  against  mischance,  I 
have  already  thought  to  provide  for  you  comfortably ; 
but,  if  you  keep  Monmouth  for  me,  I  will  give  you 
a  pension  of  fifteen  hundred  livres." 


26        .  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

"  Ah,  madame  !  "  said  Mother  Michel,  in  an  impres- 
sive tone,  "  it  is  not  necessary  to  hire  my  services  ; 
I  love  the  cat  with  all  ni}'  heart,  and  I  will  always  be 
devoted  to  him." 

"  I  am  sure  of  it,  and  I  shall  also  know  how  to  re- 
ward your  zeal."  During  this  conversation,  Father 
Lustucru  employed  all  his  forces  to  conceal  the  ex- 
pression of  his  jealous3\ 

"  Everything  for  her,  and  nothing  for  me  !  "  he 
said  to  himself  "  Fifteen  hundred  livres  a  year  !  It 
is  a  fortune,  and  she  will  have  it !  Oh,  no  !  she  shall 
not  have  it." 

The  next  morning,  at  half-past  seven,  four  lively 


The   Post-chaise   Is   ready. 

horses  were  harnessed  to  the  post-chaise  which  was 
to  convey  the  excellent  old  lady  to  Normandy.  She 
said  a  last  adieu  to  her  favorite,  pressed  him  to  her 
heart,  and  stepped  into  the  carriage. 

Until  then,  Moumouth  had  felt  only  a  vague  un- 
easiness ;  but  at  this  moment  he  understood  it  all ! 
He  saw  his  benefactress  ready  to  depart ;  and,  trem- 
bling at  the  thought  of  losing  her,  he  made  one  bound 
to  her  side. 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


27 


"  It  is  necessary  for  you  to  stay  here,"  said  Mad- 
ame de  la  Grenouillere.  making  an  effort  to  restrain 
her  tears. 

Will  it  be  believed  ?  —  the  cat  also  wept ! 

To  put  an  end  to  this  painful  scene,  Mother  Michel 
seized  the  cat  by 
the  shoulders  and 
detached  him  from 
the  carriage-cush- 
ion, to  which  he 
clung  ;  the  door 
closed,  the  horses 
gave     a    vigorous 

null  ind        Stirted  '^^^  ^^^  wishes  to  go  with  the  Carriage. 

off  at  a  speed  of  not  less  than  three  leagues  an  hour 
Monmouth  rolled  in  a  convul- 
sion, and  then  fainted. 

Madame  de  la  Grenouillere, 

h  e  r    head 

stretched 

out      of     the  Moumouth   faints. 

post-chaise,    waved    her    handker- 
chief, crying  :  — 

"  Mother     Michel,    1    connnend 
my  cat  to  you  I  " 

"  Be  tranquil,  madame  ;  I  swear 
you  shall  find  him  large  and  plump 
when  you  return." 

^•And  I,"  muttered  Father  Lustucru,  in  a  deep 
voice,  "  I  swear  he  shall  die  !  " 


He  shall  die  ! 


v<,K>\  ^ii  y*w 


CHAPTER   TIL 


IN     AVHICH    ARE     SHOWN     THE     GOODNESS     OF     MOTHER 

MICHEL     AND    THE    WICKEDNESS     OF     FATHER 

LUSTUCRU. 

OTHER  MICHEL,  worthy  of  the 
confidence    which    had    been    re- 
posed in  her,  displayed  for  Mou- 
mouth  a  truly  maternal   tender- 
_  ness ;    she    tended    him,   coddled 

him,  took  such  pains  with  him,  in  short,  that  he 
became  one  of  the  most  beautiful  cats  in  that  quarter 
of  the  town  where  the  cats  are  magnificent.  She 
watched  over  him  constantly,  gave  him  the  choicest 
bits  to  eat,  and  put  him  to  bed  at  night  on  the  soft- 
est of  eider-down  quilts. 

Fearing  that  he  might  fall  ill  some  day,  and  wish- 
ing to  inform  herself  concerning  the  maladies  to 
which  cats  are  liable,  she  procured  various  books  on 
that  important  subject ;  she  even  went  so  far  in  her 
devotion  as  to  read  the  "  History  of  Cats,"  by  Fran- 
Qois-Auguste  Paradis  de  Moncrif,  a  member  of  the 
French  Academy. 

The  conduct  of  Mother  Michel  had  no  low  motive 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  29 

of  personal  interest.  She  gave  scarcely  a  thought  to 
herself,  the  good  old  soul  !  Content  with  little,  she 
would  always  have  enough  to  live  on  ;  she  required 
nothing  but  a  small  room,  brown  bread,  a  supply 
of  wood  in  winter,  and  a  spinning-wheel.  But 
she  had  nephews  and  nieces,  god-children,  whom 
she  hoped  to  be  able  to  help  ;  it  was  to  them  that 
she  destined  in  advance  the  gifts  of  Madame  de  la 
Grenouillere. 

The  continually  increasing  prosperity  of  Monmouth 
exasperated  Father  Lustucru.  He  saw  with  a  sort 
of  dread  the  approach  of  the  hour  when  the  faithful 
guardian  would  be  rewarded  ;  he  dreamt  day  and 
night  of  the  means  to  prevent  it,  —  to  carry  off  her 
four-footed  pupil,  and  bring  down  on  her  the  wrath 
of  their  mistress.  By  dint  of  indulging  his  hatred 
and  envy  in  solitary  reflections,  he  ceased  at  last  to 
draw  back  at  the  prospect  of  committing  a  crime. 

"  How,"  he  said,  "  how  rid  the  house  of  that  mis- 
erable cat  ?  What  arms  shall  I  use  against  him  ? 
Fire,  poison,  or  w^ater  ?     I  will  try  water  !  " 

This  resolution  taken,  he  thought  of  nothing  but 
to  put  it  into  execution.  It  was  difficult  to  get  pos- 
session of  Monmouth,  of  whom  Mother  Michel  rarely 
lost  sight ;  and  Monmouth,  too,  not  having  the  slight- 
est confidence  in  the  steward,  was  always  on  the  de- 
fensive. Lustucru  watched  during  several  days  for 
a  favorable  occasion. 

One  night,  after  making  an  excellent  supper,  Mou- 


30 


THE  STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


mouth  curled  himself  up  near  the  fire  in  the  parlor, 
at  the  feet  of  Mother  Michel,  and  slept  the  sleep  of 
the  just  with  good  digestion.  In  the  midst  of  this, 
Fatlier  Lustucru  came  into  the  room. 

''  Good  !  "  he  thought.    "  The  cat  sleeps.     Let  us 
get  the  guardian  out  of  the  Avay." 

"■  How  auiiable  of  you  to  come  and  keep  me  com- 
pany ! "    said   Mother   Michel,  politely.      "  You    are 

quite  well  this  evening  ?  " 
''  Perfectly ;  but  every- 
body is  not  like  me.  Our 
porter,  for  ex- 
ample, is  in 
a  deplorable 
state  ;  he  is 
suffering     ex- 


ec 
hi: 


atage. 


lively  from 
rh  eu  m  a- 
i  n  d 
You 


1 1 8  m  , 
would  be  very  happ}^  to  see  you  a  moment, 
have  gentle  words  to  console 
the  afflicted,  and  excellent  re- 
ceipts to  cure  them.  Go,  then, 
and  pay  a  little  visit  to  our 
friend  Krautman ;  I  am  per- 
suaded that  your  presence  will 
help  him." 

Mother  Michel  got  up  at  once  and  descended  to 
the  apartment  of  the  porter,  who  was,  indeed,  suffer- 
ing from  a  violent  rheumatic  pain. 


The    Porte 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


31 


'^  Now  for  us  two  I  "  cried  Father  Lustucru  to  him- 
self. 

He  went  stealthih'  into  an  adjoining  room,  walking 
upon  the  tips  of  his  toes,  and  took  a  covered  basket 
which  he  had  hidden  in  the  bottom  of  a  closet. 
Then  he  re- 
turned to  Mon- 
mouth, whom 
he  seized 
roughly  by  the 
neck.  The 
u  n  f  o  1'  t  u  n  a  t  e 
animal  awoke 
with  a  start, 
and  found  him- 
self suspended 
in  the  air  foce 
to  face  with 
Father  Lustu- 
cru, his  enemy.  The  Steward  seizes  Moumouth 

In  that  horrible  situation  he  would  have  cried,  and 
struggled,  and  called  for  assistance,  but  he  had  no 
time.  The  odious  steward  plunged  the  poor  cat  into 
the  basket,  quickly  clapped  down  the  solid  cover,  and 
ran  rapidly  to  the  staircase,  his  eyes  haggard  and  his 
hair  standing  on  end,  like  a  man  who  commits  a 
crime. 

It  was  a  beautiful  night  in  February,  with  a  clear 
sky  and  a  dry,  cold  atmosphere.     The  moon  shone 


32 


THE  STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


with  all  her  brightness  ;  but,  at  intervals,  great  clouds 

drifted  over 
her  face  and 
rendered  the  ob- 
s  c  u  r  i  t  y  com- 
plete. Father 
L  u  s  t  u  c  r  u  was 
obliged  to  cross 
the  garden,  in 
order  to  pass  out 

The   Cat   is   plunged   into   the    Basket.  j-jy   c^    SUiall     doOr 

of  which  he  had  taken  the  key.    He  glided  from  bush 

to    bush,    carefully    avoiding    the 

paths,  except  when  the  clouds  veiled 

the  moon.    He  had  half-opened  the 

door,  when    he   heard  a  sound  of 

footsteps  and  voices   outside.     He 

started     back 

involuntarily,    '^^^  ^^"^"^^  ^"^^'""^  "^"y- 
then  stood  still  and  listened. 

"'What  foohshness !  "  he  said, 
after  a  moment  of  silent  obser- 
vation.    '"  I  had  forgotten  that 
it  was  carnival-time  ;    those  are 
^*  masque raders  passing." 
He  dances  with  Delight  It  was,  \\\  effect,  a  baud  of 

masquerade  rs    from    the    Palais    Royal.       Lustucru 

waited  until  they  were  gone  ;  then  he  hurried  out. 

When  he  reached  the  quay,  in  the  joy  of  success,  he 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


33 


began  to  whistle  a  dancing- tune  and 
cut  capers ;  his  transports  resembled 
those  of  a  cannibal  who  dances 
around  his  victim. 

He  went  up  the  Seine  as  far  as  the 
bridge  of  Notre  Dame,  in  the  middle 
of  which  he  halted,  and  holding  the 
basket  over  the  parapet,  turned  it 
suddenly  upside  down,  and  launched 
the  luckless  Moumouth  into  the  icy 
waters  of  the  river.  The  cat,  in 
dropping  through  space,  gave  a  cry 
that  seemed  to  come  from  a  human 
voice.  The  assassin  shuddered,  but 
his  emotion  did  not  last  long.  He 
thrust  his  hands  into  his  pockets 
and  said,  in  a  tone  of  bitter  mock- 
ery, — 

••  Pleasant  voyage  to  you,  dear 
Moumouth  ;  endeavor  to  arrive  all 
right !  By  the  way,"  added  he.  ''  I 
think  cats  know  how  to  swim  ;  that 
brigand  is  capable  of  getting  himself 
out  of  this  business.  Bah !  it  is  a 
long  distance  from  the  bridge  of 
Notre  Dame  to  Saint-Thomas-du- 
Louvre !  " 

Reassured  by  this  reflection,  Lustu- 
cru  continued  on  his  way  home,  re- 


Tne  Cat  is  thrown  into  tr.e  River 


34  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

entered  by  the  door  of  the  garden,  climbed  cautiously 
up  to  his  room,  and  held  himself  in  readiness  to  en- 
joy the  lamentations  of  Mother  Michel. 

Mother  Michel  was  detained  some  time  by  the 
porter  ;  finally,  she  left  him,  to  give  her  cat  the  cup 
of  milk  and  sugar  with  which  she  regaled  him  every 
niorht. 

She  ascended  to  the  parlor  with  measured  steps, 
calmly,  not  anticipating  any  catastrophe.  FaiHng  to 
see  Monmouth  in  the  place  he  had  occupied,  she  sim- 
ply believed  that  he  had  smuggled  himself  behind  the 
cushions  of  the  sofa.     She  looked  there,  and  beneath 


the  sofa,  and  searched  under  the  other  pieces  of  fur- 
niture. Then,  running  to  the  staircase,  she  called  : 
"  Monmouth  !  Monmouth  !  " 

"  He  does  n't  answer  me,"  said  she.  ''  But  when 
I  went  down-stairs,  Lustucru  was  here  ;  may  be  he 
can  tell  me  Avhat  has  become  of  the  cat." 

She   knocked  without  delay   at    the    door  of  the 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


35 


steward,  who  pretended  to  rouse  himself  from  a  deep 
slumber,  and,  in  a  gruff  voice,  demanded  what  was 
wanted. 

"  Is  n't  Moumouth  with  you  ?  " 

'•  Does  your  cat  ever  come  where  I  am  ?  You 
know  very  well  that  he  can't  bear  me." 

^*  Alas  I  where 
is  he  ?  I  left 
him  in  the  par- 
lor, near  the 
fire,  and  1  can- 
not find  him." 

'^  Can    he     be 

lost    ?    "  said  She   knocks  at  the   Steward's   Door. 

Father  Lustucru,  feigning  the  most  lively  anxiety. 

"  Lost !  Oh,  no,  it  is  impossible  I  He  is  somewhere 
in  the  house." 

''  He  ought  to  be  found,"  said  the  villain,  gravely. 
"  He  ought  to  be  searched  for  this  very  instant. 
Moumouth  is  a'  precious  animal,  Avhose  merit  makes 
it  well  worth  while  to  wake  up  the  servants." 

All  the  inmates  of  the  house  were  soon  on  foot, 
each  armed  with  a  candle.  They  ransacked  the 
nooks  and  corners,  from  the  cellar  to  the  garret,  from 
the  court  to  the  o-arden.  Lustucru  directed  the 
operations  with  apparent  zeal.  After  ineffectual 
searches.  Mother  Michel,  exhausted  by  emotion  and 
fatigue,  threw  herself  helplessly  into  an  arm-chair. 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


017 

o7 


cried  Motlier  Michel, 


"  Alas  !  "  said  she,  '^  I  left  him  only  an  instant,  and 
it  was  to  do  a  good  action." 

"  I  begin  to  believe  that  your  cat  is  really  lost," 
replied  Liistucru,  in  a  severe  tone.  "  It  is  a  great 
misfortune  for  you  !  What  will  Madame  de  la  Gre- 
nouillere  say  when  she  comes  back  ?  She  is  capable 
of  turning  you  out  of  doors  !  ' 

''  Turn  me  out  of  doors  !  " 
suddenly  draw- 
ing herself  up 
to  her  full 
height.  Then 
she  sunk  down 
again,  her  face 
grew  pallid,  her 
eyes  closed,  and 
she  fell  back 
without     c  o  n- 


sciousness. 
Father    Lus- 


The   Shock 


tucru  regarded  her  with  a  dry  eye,  and  without  feel- 


ing the  slightest  remorse. 

man  ! 


He  laughed,  the  infamous 


CHAPTER  IV. 


IN  WHICH  THE  CAT  DISPLAYS  INTELLIGENCE  BEYOND 
HIS  STATION  IN  LIFE,  AND  BEHAVES  HANDSOMELY 
IN    ADVERSITY. 

E  lost  siglit  of  Monmouth  at  the 
moment  when,  precipitated  from 
the  parapet  of  the  bridge  of  Notre 
Dame,  he  fomid  himself  struc>ro:Hnt^ 
in  the  water. 

Luckil}^  for  him,  the  piles  of 
the  principal  arch  had  a  wide  ledge,  to  which  he  was 
able  to  attach  himself.  From  this  place  he  cast  a 
glance  around  him.  The  Seine  appeared  to  him  a 
boundless  ocean,  which  it  was  beyond  his  strength 
to  cross  ;  rather  than  attempt  to  reach  the  shores 
that  seemed  to  recede  before  him,  he  prepared  to 
stay  where  he  was,  at  the  risk  of  perishing  with 
hunger  or  cold,  or  being  swept  away  by  a  wave. 
He  mewed  at  first  in  sio^n  of  distress,  but  verv  soon, 
believing  himself  hopelessly  lost,  he  judged  it  useless 
to  tire  his  lungs,  and  awaited  the  end  with  a  resigna- 
tion which  formed  the  basis  of  his  character. 

Toward  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  two  gentlemen 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


39 


from  the  island  of  Saint-Louis,  —  two  very  skillful 
amateur  fishermen,  —  came  to  throw  their  lines  from 
the  top  of  the  bridge  of  Notre  Dame. 

''  You  are  early,  neighbor  Guignolet,"  said  the  per- 
son wdio  arrived  last ;  '^  it  appears  that  we  have  both 
had  the  same  idea." 

''  And  we  have  done  well,  neighbor  Groquemouche; 
there  was  a  rise  in  the  river  last  night,  great  numbers 
of  fish  have  descended  from  the  upper  Seine,  and  one 
w^ill  have  to  be  dreadfully  awkward  not  to  take 
them." 

''  Will  you  enter  into  an  agreement,  neighbor 
Guignolet  ?  Let  us  fish  in  partnership,  divide  the 
catch,  and  dine  together  to-day." 

"  Agreed  I  "  said  M.  Guignolet,  and  as  each  held 
his  line  in  his 
right  hand,  they 
clasped  their  left 
hands  together 
in  token  of  the 
treaty. 

On  seeing  the 
two  cords  de- 
scend Mon- 
mouth con- 
ceived    some 

hope.         As     soon  "Agreed!"  said   M.   Guignolet. 

as  they  w^ere  within  his  reach  he  grappled  them,  and 
the  fishermen,  feeling  the  imusual  weight,  cried  out 


.^  ?. 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


41 


carp,"  replied  M.  Gro- 


witli  one  voice,  ''  A  bite  !  a  bite  !  "  and  hastened  to 
haul  in  their  lines. 

"  I  bet  I  have  caught  a  wattle,"  said  M.  Guignolet, 
regretting  that  he  couldn't  rub  his  hands  together 
to  testify  his  satisfaction. 

*^I  must  have  an  immense 
quemouche.    He  had  scarce- 
ly  finished    the    sentence 
when    M  o  u  m  o  u  t h    leaped 
over  the  parapet. 

'^  Treason !  "  cried  the  two 
fishers,  who  started  in  pur- 
suit of  the  quadruped  that 
had  come  so  miraculously 
out  of  the  water ;  but  Mon- 
mouth ran  faster  than  they 
did  and  easily  escaped  them. 

When  he  was  alone,  he 
took  breath,  examined  the 
houses,  and,  not  finding 
one  that  resembled  his,  nat- 
urally concluded  that  it  was  not  there.  It  was  neces- 
sary, however,  to  find  shelter  ;  shivering  with  cold 
and  panting  with  his  exertions,  he  could  not  remain 
a  moment  longer  in  the  street  without  exposing  him- 
self to  an  inflammation  of  the  chest.  Guided  by  a 
light,  he  made  his  way  into  the  basement  of  a  baker's 
shop,  and,  hiding  himself  behind  a  pile  of  bread- 
baskets, went  quietly  to  sleep. 


Moumouth  grapples  the    Lines. 


42 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


He  was  awakened  by  hunger. 

Monmouth  was  born  of  poor  parents  who  had 
abandoned  him  in  his  earhest  infancy ;  he  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  streets,  obhged  to  procure  his  own 
living,  and  trained  in  the  school  of  adversity.  Thus 
he  was  very  skillful  in  the  art  of  catching  rats  and 

mice,  —  a  useful  art.  too  often 
neglected  by  cats  belonging 
to  the  first  families. 

He  placed  himself  on  the 
watch,  and  surprised  a  mouse 
that  had  stolen  out  of  its 
hole  to  eat  some  flour.  He 
dropped  upon  the  imprudent 
mouse,  in  describing  what  is  called  in  geometry  a 
parabola,  and  seized  it  by  the  nose,  to  prevent  it 
from  crying  out.  This  feat,  although  performed 
with  address  and  in  silence,  attracted  the  attention  of 

the  baker's  boy.  ''Hi! 
a  cat  I  "  cried  the  ap- 
prentice, arming  him- 
self with  a  scoop. 

The  master-baker 
turned  his  eyes  to- 
w  a  r  d  s  Monmouth, 
saw    him 


~^^ 


The    Imprudent    Mouse. 


"Don't   hurt   hinn  !  "    said   the    Baker. 

the  mouse,  and  said  to  the  boy  :  — 

''  Don't  hurt  him  ;  he  is  doing  us  a  service.' 
''But  where  did  he  come  from  ?  " 


devouring 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


"  What  does  that  matter,  provided  he  is  useful 
here  ?  "  answered  the  baker,  who  w^as  a  man  of  in- 
telHgence.  '*  Eat,  eat,  my  friend,"  he  continued, 
stooping  down  to  gently  caress  Monmouth ;  "  eat  as 
many  mice  as  possible,  there  will  always  be  enough 
left." 

Our  cat  profited  by  the  permission  accorded  to  him, 
and,  having  satisfied  his  hunger,  had  a  desire  to  set 
out  in  search  of  the  mansion  of  Madame  de  la  Gre- 
nouillere  ;  but  the  baker  barred  the  passage. 

"  Wait  a  minute  !  "  he    said.     ''  I  wanted  a  oood 

o 

cat ;  Heaven  sent  me  one,  and  I  shall  not  forgive 
myself  if  I  let  him  escape.  Hulloo  I  Jacques,  shut 
up  all  the  openings,  and  if  this  rogue  makes  a  show 
of  runnino;  off,  ofive  him  three  or  four  smart  blows 
with  the  broom." 

Thus  tlie  host  of  Moumouth  became  his  tyrant ;  so 
true  is  it  that  personal  interest 
depraves  the  best  natures.  Our 
cat,  as  if  comprehending  what 
was  passing,  leaped  without 
hesitation  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  baker's  boy,  and  thence 
into  the  street. 

There  a  new  danger  awaited 
him.     Surprised  by  this  unex- 
pected apparition,  an  enormous 
bull-dog  planted  himself  directly  Moumouth  jumps  o. 
in  front  of  Moumouth.     Moumouth  had  a  lively  de 


•?^ 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


45 


sire  to  avoid  an  unequal  contest,  but  the  dog  kept 
an  eye  on  him,  and  did  not  lose  one  of  his  move- 
ments, going  to  the  right  when  Monmouth  went  to 
the  left,  and  to  the  left  wdien  Moumouth  moved  to 
the  right,  and  growled  all  the  while  in  a  ma- 
licious fashion.  For  an  instant  they  stood 
motionless,  observing  each  other, —  the 
dog  with  paw^s  extended,  teeth  displayed, 
and    bodv   drawn 


He   meets  a    B 


dog. 


back,  and  the  cat 
with  open  mouth, 
h  i  s  back  arched 
and  his  head 
thrust  forward. 

Neither  seemed 
disposed  to  begin  hostilities.  Finally  the  dog  rushed 
upon  his  adversary,  who  avoided  him  adroith',  passed 
underneath  him.  and  tied  in  the  direction  of  the 
quay,  the  bull-dog  giving  chase.  Away  they  went, 
darting:  among;  the  crowd  of  pedestrians  and  in  and 
out  between  the  carriages.  In  a  natural  spirit  of 
imitation,  the  wandering  dogs  that  encountered  them 
running  joined  in  the  race,  and  at  the  end  of  a  min- 
uie  Moumouth  had  more  than  thirty-seven  dogs  in 
])ursuit  of  him. 

''  I   am  lost,"  he  says  to  himself,  ^'  but  at  least  I 
shall  sell  my  life  dearly." 

He  backs  against  a  wall,  and  braces  himself  haugh- 
tily on  his  feet;  his  teeth  gnashing,  his  hair  bristling. 


46 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


he  faces   his  numerous  enemies  with  so  terrible  an 
eye  that  they  recoil  like  a  single  man.     Profiting  by 

their  hesitation,  he 
turns  suddenly  and 
scrambles  to  the 
top  of  the  wall. 
He  is  soon  beyond 
the  reach  of  the 
dogs,  but  he  is  not 
yet  in  safety;  if 
he  makes  a  false 
step,  if  his  strength 
gives  out,  if  the 
plaster  crumbles 
under  his  claws, 
twenty  yawning 
uu)nths.  hungry  for 
slaughter,  are  there  to  tear  him  to  pieces  ! 


In  the  meanwhile,  Mother  Michel  had  passed  the 
night  in  lamentation.  She 
could  not  control  her  grief  for 
the  loss  of  Monmouth ;  she 
called  him  continually  in  a 
plaintive  voice,  and  —  if  we 
ma}^  credit  the  popular  song  — 
the  neighbors  heard  her  cry  at 
the  window  :  ''  Who  will  bring  him  back  to  me  ?  " 

The  next  morning,  at  the  rising  of  the  smiling  sun, 


Mother  Michel   laments. 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


47 


the    perfidious    Lustiicru    presented    himself    before 

Mother  Michel  in  order  to  say  to  her  :  — 

'•  Well,  my  dear  companion,  have  you  found  him  ?  " 
'-  Alas,   no  !  "    she    murmured.     "  Have    you    any 

news  of  him  ?  " 

''  Nothing    positive,"    replied    the    steward,    who 

wished  to  tor- 
ment the  poor 

woman  ;  ''but 

I  dreamed    of    - 

him  all  night 

long ;    he  ap-    ^ 

peared  to  me 

in    a     dream, 

with     his     fllCe  Father   Lustucru  dreams. 

pale  and  an  exhausted  air,  like  a  cat  who  did  not  feel 
very  w^ell." 

''  In  what  place  was  he  ?  " 

''  He  seemed  to  be  in  a  garden,  at  the  foot  of  a 
lilac-bush." 

Mother  Michel  instantly  ran  to  the  garden,  where, 
as  you  may  imagine,  she  did  not  find  Monmouth. 

During  the  whole  day  Lustucru  amused  himself 
by  giving  her  false  exultations,  which  were  followed 
by  increased  despondency. 

"Mother  Michel,"  said  he,  "just  now,  in  passing 
the  store-room,  I  thought  I  heard  a  kind  of  meyow- 
ing." 

Mother  Michel  hastened  to  visit  the  store-room. 


48 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


Presently  he  came  to  her  out  of  breath,  and  said  :  — 
"  We  have  him  at  last  I  I  am  nearly  certain  that 
he  is  rummaging  in  the  cellar." 

And    Mother  Michel    ventured 
into    the    gloomy    vaults    of    the 
cellar,    where     she     encountered 
nothing  but  rats. 
^iJBfxj^         It  was   near    the    close    of  the 
~      ^      ~  day    that    Lustucru    pronounced 

these  words,  which  a  popular  song 
has  happily  preserved  for  us  :  — 


Mother  Michel  encounters  noth 
ing  but  Rats. 


Oil,  Mother  Michel, 
Your  cat  is  not  lost  ; 
He  is  up  in  the  garret 
A-hunting  the  rats, 
With  his  little  straw  rruu 
And  his  sabre  of  wood  I  ' 


The  words  were  full  of  a  bitter  raillery,  which 
Father  Lustucru  w\as  unable  to  disguise.  To  pretend 
that  Monmouth  was  hunting  rats  with  his  little  straw 
gun  and  his  wooden  sword  was  to  suppose  something 
quite  unlikely,  for  nobody  ever  saw  a  cat  make  use 
of  such  arms.  But  the  agonies  of  Mother  Michel 
had  so  confused  her  mind,  that  she  noticed  only  what 
could  give  her  a  gleam  of  hope. 

'MIe  is  in  the  garret  I  "  she  cried,  without  paying 
attention  to  the  rest  of  the  verse.  '•  Let  us  hasten 
there,  my  dear  sir  ;  let  us  search  for  him.  Give  me 
your  arm,  for  I  am  so  nervous,  so  troubled,  so  har- 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


49 


assed  by  fatigue,  that  I  have  not  the  strength  to  get 
up  alone." 

The  two  mounted  to  the  garret,  and  Mother 
Michel,  lantern  in  hand,  searched  in  the  attic  and 
under  the  roof.  Si- 
lence and  solitude 
reigned  everywhere. 

"You    are    again  ^^  ^^^ 

mistaken,"  murmured  ^^|^        ^ff^S^'/^ 

Mother  Michel.  .^^\     ,^^J^B^ 

^•No,  no,"   replied  ^^1-^^!^^^/' i"^^^ 

the        malicious       man  ;  she  searches  the    Attic 

"  let  us  continue  to  hunt,  we  shall  finish  by  finding. 
We  haven't  looked  there  —  behind  those  fiijj-ots." 

The  credulous  Mother  Michel  advanced  in  the 
direction  indicated,  and  —  to  the  great  stupefaction 
of  Lustucru  —  the  cat,  which  he  believed  drowned, 
appeared  in  full  health  and  strength,  and  fixed  its 
gaze  upon  him 
indignantly. 

''It  is  he  I  it 
is  he  !  "  cried 
Mother  Michel, 
seizing  M  o  u- 
m o  u  t h  in  he r  \\ 
arms.  ''  Ah,  my 
dear  Lustucru  ! 
my  good  and  true  friend,  how  I  thank  you  for  con- 
ductimi:  me  here  !  " 


cried    Mother    Michel 


50  THE   STORY   OF  A   CAT. 

The  steward  had  scarcely  any  taste  for  compli- 
ments which  he  so  little  merited.  Pale-faced  and 
cold,  he  hang  his  head  before  his  victim,  whose  pres- 
ervation he  could  not  explain  to  himself  It  was, 
however,  a  very  simple  thing :  Monmouth,  pursued 
by  the  dogs,  succeeded  in  leaping  from  the  wall, 
and,  passing  from  gutter  to  gutter,  from  garden  to 
garden,  from  roof  to  roof,  had  reached  his  domicil ; 
but,  dreading  the  resentment  of  his  enemy,  he  had 
not  dared  to  appear,  and  had  hidden  himself  in 
the  garret. 

"Am  I  the  dupe  of  a  nightmare?"  said  Father 
Lustucru  to  himself  "  Is  it  really  that  rascal  of  a 
Moumouth  that  I  have  there  under  my  eyes,  in  flesh 
and  bone  ?  Is  n't  it  his  ghost  that  has  come  back 
to  torment  me  ?  This  cat,  then,  is  the  evil  one  in 
person !  " 

The  cat  was  not  the  evil  one  —  Providence  had 
protected  him. 


CHAPTER  V. 

IX    WPIICH    THE    CAT    CONTENDS 

SUCCESSFULLY    AGAIXST 

HIS    EXEMY. 

'      .'HE  events  we  have  recorded 
indicate   very   clearly    the 
position  of  our  personages. 
Fearing  to  lose  both   the 
well-beloved   cat   and    the 
advantages  she  was  ambi- 
tious   to    obtain,    Mother 
Michel  redoubled  her  yiq-'i- 
lance  and  attention. 
Moumouth,  knowing  henceforth  with  whom  he  had 
to  deal,  promised  himself  to  avoid  the  steward,  or  to 
fight  him,  if  need  be,  with  tooth  and  nail. 

As  to  Father  Lustucru.  it  was  enough  that  his  proj- 
ects had  been  defeated,  in  order  that  he  should  per- 
sist in  them  with  desperation.  He  now  wished  the 
destruction  of  the  poor  and  innocent  cat,  not  only  on 
account  of  his  jealousy  of  Mother  Michel,  but  because 
he  hated  the  cat  itself 


52  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

"  Oh,  what  humihation  !  "  he  said  to  himself,  with 
bitterness.  "  I  ought  to  hide  myself,  retire  to  a  des- 
ert, and  bury  me  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth !  What ! 
I,  Jerome  Lustucru,  a  grown  man,  a  man  of  knowl- 
edge and  experience,  a  man  —  1  dare  say  it  — 
charming  in  society,  I  am  vanquished,  scoffed  at, 
taken  for  a  dupe,  by  a  cat  of  the  gutter  !  .  .  .  I  leave 
him  at  the  bottom  of  a  river,  and  find  him  at  the  top 
of  a  house  !  I  wish  to  separate  him  from  his  guard- 
ian, and  I  am  the  means  of  bringing  them  together  ! 
I  lead  Mother  Michel  to  the  garret 
to  torture  her,  and  there  I  witness 
her  transports  of  joy  !  The  cat  I 
believed  dead  reappears  to  defy  me  ! 
....  He  shall  not  defy  me  long!  " 
And  Father  Lustucru  remained 
niL  b  'f  ii^t"^"T  absorbed  in  deep  meditation. 
Lustucru  meditates.  Moumoutli  had  uot  yct  dined  that 

day,  and  he  made  it  plain  by  expressive  miau-ing 
that  he  would  very  willingly  place  something  under 
his  teeth.  Presently,  Mother  Michel  said  to  him  — 
for  she  spoke  to  him  as  if  he  were  an  intelligent  be- 

hig,— 

"  Have  patience,  sir ;  we  are  going  to  attend  to 
you." 

She  descended  to  the  parlor,  which  she  habitually 
occupied  since  the  departure  of  Madame  de  la  Gren- 
ouillere,  and  the  cat,  who  accompanied  Mother 
Michel,  was  clearly  displeased  at  seeing  her  take  the 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


53 


road  to  the  chamber  of  Lustucrii.  Nevertheless,  he 
went  in  with  her,  persuaded  that  in  the  presence  of 
that  faithful  friend  the  steward  would  not  dare  to 
undertake  anything  against  hiui. 

At  the  moment  she  knocked  at  the  door.  Father 
Lustucru  was  taking  from  the  shelf  a  green  package 
which  bore  this  label :  Death  to  Rats. 

'^  This    is    the  ^ 

thing,"  he  said  to 
himself,  thrusting 
the  paper  into  his 
vest.  "  Death  to 
Bats  should  also  be 
Death  to  Cats.  Our 
dear  M  o  u  m  o  u  t  h 
shall  make  the  trial. 
....  What  can 
one  do  to  serve  you, 
m  y  good  Mother 
Michel?" 

"  It  is  five  o'clock, 
M.  Lustucru,  and 
you  forget  my  cat." 

'*  /  forget  him  !  " 
cried  the  steward, 
clasping  his  hands  as 
if  very  much  hurt  by 
the  suspicion,  "  I  was 


The   Green   Package. 


am 


gomg 


ust  thinkhig  of  liim 1 

to  prepare  for  him  such  a  delicious  hash 


that  he  will  never  want  another 


54  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

"  Thanks,  Monsieur  Lustucru !  I  shall  inform 
Madame,  the  Countess,  of  your  care  for  her  favorite. 
I  have  received  a  letter  from  her  this  very  day  ;  she 
sends  me  word  that  she  shall  return  shortly;  that  she 
hopes  to  find  Monmouth  in  good  condition,  and  that 
she  has  in  reserve  for  me  a  very  handsome  reward. 
You  comprehend  my  jo}^,  Monsieur  Lustucru !  My 
sister  is  left  a  widow  with  four  children,  to  whom  I 
hand  over  my  little  savings  each  year.  Until  now 
this  assistance  has  not  been  much  ;  but,  thanks  to  the 
gifts  of  Madame,  the  Countess,  the  poor  children  will 
be  able  to  go  to  school  and  learn  a  trade." 

In  pronouncing  these  words  the  eyes  of  Mother 
Michel  were  moist  and  brio-ht  with  the  most  sweet 
joy,  —  that  which  one  experiences  in  performing  or 
meditating  good  actions.  The  stew\ard,  however,  was 
not  affected.  He  had  so  given  himself  up  to  his  evil 
passions  that  they  completely  mastered  him,  and  had 
by  degrees  stifled  all  generous  sentiments  in  his  soul, 
as  the  tares  which  one  lets  grow 
choke  the  ij^ood  o-rain. 

One    Avould     have    said    that 
Monmouth  miderstood  this  man. 
The  cat  approached  Mother  Mi- 
chel, who  had  seated  herself  to 
chat  awhile,  and  looking  at  her 
Come,  let  us  go' '         ^itli  supplicatiug  eycs,  pulled  at 
the  skirt  of  her  robe,  as  if  to  say  to  her  :  — 
''  Come,  let  us  go  !  " 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


55 


"Take  care!"  said  the  good  creature,  "you  will 
tear  my  dress." 

Moumouth  beo-an  a^ain. 

"  What  is  it  ?     Do  you  want  to  get  out  of  here  ?  " 
asked  Mother  Michel. 

Moumouth  made  several  affirmative  capers  in  the 
air. 

"  Decidedly,"  she  added,  "  this  cat  is  not  contented 
anywhere  but  in  the  parlor." 

She  rose  and  w^ithdrew,  preceded   by  Moumouth, 
who  bounded  with  joy. 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  afterward  the  steward  had 
prepared  a  most  appetizing  hash  composed  of  the 
breast  of  chicken,  the  best  quality  of  bread,  and  other 
ingredients  justly  esteemed  by  dainty  eaters.  After 
adding  a  large  dose  of  the 
hash  down  in  an  ad- 
joining room,  and, 
opening  the  parlor 
door,  cried  : 

''Monsieur       is 
served  ! !  " 

On  beholding  this 
delicate  dish,  Mou- 
mouth thrilled  with 
pleasure,  for,  to  tell 
the  truth,  he  was  rather  greedy, 
nose  over  the  plate,  and  then  suddenly  retreated, 
arching  his  back.     A  sickening  and  infectious  odor 


Death  to  Rats,"  he  set  the 

m 


Moumouth   is   pleased  to  see  the    Hash. 

lie  stretched  his 


56 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


lordinary,"    said  p 

He  sniffs  with   Disgust. 


had  mounted  to  his  nostrils.     He  made  a  tour  round 
the   plate,   took   another  sniff,   and   again   retreated. 
This  animal,  full  of  sagacity,  had  scented  the 
poison.  J 

^'  Well,   that   is   very   extraordinary,"    said  ( 

Mother  Michel ;  and,  having 
vainly  offered  the  food  to  her 
cat,  she  went  to  find  Lustucru, 
to  inform  him  what  had  oc- 
curred. 

The  traitor  listened  with  inward  rage. 
"  What  I  "  said  he,  •"  he  has  refused  to  eat  it  ?     It 
is  probably  because  he  is  not  hungry." 

"  So  I  suppose.    Mon- 
sieur Lustucru  ;  for  your 
hash  looks  very  nice.     I 
should  like  it  myself,  and 
I  've    half    a 
mind  to  taste 
it,  to  set  Mou- 
mouth  an  ex- 
ample."     At 
tliis.  Father 
Lustucru,     in 
spite     of    his 
hardness, 

"  Dont  touch  .t,    I    beg   of   yo^.  COuM  UOtllclp 

trembling.     For  a   minute    he  was    horrified   at   his 
crime,  and  cried  hastily  :  — 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  57 

"  Don't  touch  it,  I  beg  of  you  I  " 

"  Why  not  ?     Is  there  anything  wrong  in  the  hash  ? " 

"  No,  certainly  not,"  stammered  Father  Lustucru  ; 
"^  but  what  has  been  prepared  for  a  cat  should  not 
serve  for  a  Christian.  It  is  necessary  to  guard  pro- 
priety, and  not  trifle  with  the  dignity  of  human  na- 
ture." 

Mother  Michel  accepted  this  reasoning,  and  said,  a 
little  snappishly  :  — 

"  Very  well  ;  Moumouth  may  suit  himself!  I  do 
not  wish  to  yield  to  all  his  fancies,  and  I  shall  not 
give  him  anything  else." 

The  following  day  the  hash  was  still  uneaten. 

The  steward  had  hoped  that  the  cat,  pressed  by 
hunger,  would  have  thrown  himself  upon  the  poisoned 
food  ;  but  Moumouth  knew  how  to  suffer.  He  put 
up  with  abstinence,  lived  on  scraps  and  crumbs  of 
bread,  and  recoiled  with  terror  every  time  that  his 
guardian  offered  him  the  fatal  plate, 
which  finally  remained  forgotten  in 
a  corner  of  the  closet  in  the 
antechamber. 

Father  Lustucru,  seeing  that 
his  plot  had  not  succeeded,  was 
more  irritable  than  ever.     The      -r,,  p,,,,  p,,,,  ,,^,,,3 ,,,. 
desire   to    rid    himself   of  Mou-  ^°'''" 

mouth  became  a  fixed  idea  with  him,  a  passion,  a 
monomania  ;  he  dreamed  of  it  day  and  night.  Each 
letter  in  which  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  demanded 


68 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


news  of-  the  cat  and  repeated  her  promise  of  recom- 
pense to  Mother  Michel,  each  sign  of  interest  given 
by  the  Countess  to  her  two  favorites,  increased  the 
bhnd  fury  of  their  enemy.  He  thought  of  the  most 
infernal  plans  to  demolish  Monmouth  without  risk  to 
himself,  but  none  of  them  seemed  sufficiently  safe  and 
expeditious.     Finally  he  decided  on  this  one  :  — 

On  a  heavy  pedestal,  in  the  chamber  of  Mother 
Michel,  was  a  marble  bust  of  Louis  XIV.,  represented 

with  a  Roman  helmet  and  a 
/^V  peruke  interlaced  with  laurel- 
leaves.  Behind  this  bust  was 
a  round  window,  which  looked 
upon  the  staircase  ;  and  just  in 
front  of  the  pedestal  was  the 
downy  cushion  that  served  as 
a  bed  for  Monmouth,  who 
would  certainly  have  been 
crushed  if  the  bust  luul  taken 
it  into  its  head  to  topple  over 

One  night  Lustucru  stole 
noiselessly  into  the  chand)er  of 
Mother  Michel,  opened  the 
which  he  was  careful  to  leave  ajar, 
and  retired  silently.  At  midnight,  when  everybody 
was  asleep  in  the  house,  he  took  one  of  those  long 
brooms,  commonly  called  a  wolf-head,  placed  himself 
on  the  staircase  opposite  the  small  window,  rested  his 
back  firmly  against  the  banister,  and,  with  the  aid 


Louis  XIV. 

round  window 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


59 


of  the  wolf-head,  pushed  over  the  bust,  which  tum- 
bled with  a  loud  crash  on  the  cushion  beneath. 

The  wicked  man  had  expected   this   result    of  his 
movement ;  it  was  for  him  the  signal 
of  his  triumph  and  the  death  of  Mou- 
mouth.     However,  when   he   heard 
the  bust  roll  heavily  on 
the  floor,  he  Avas  seized 
by    a    panic,    and,    with 
trembling  steps,  reirainef 
his  chamber. 
Mother  Michel 
awoke    with    a 
start ;    she  was 
in    complete 
darkness,    and  Downfall  of  louIs  xiv. 

unable  to  procure  a  light,  for  German  chemical 
matches  were  not  yet  invented. 
Surprise  and  fright  had  taken  away 
her  faculties  for  an  instant,  then  she 
cried,  "  Stop  thief!  "  with  all  the 
streng;th  of  her  lung;s.  Verv  soon 
the  whole  house  was  roused,  and 
all  the  servants  came  runninii;  in  to 
learn  what  was  the  matter. 

Lustucru    appeared   last,  with   a 
his  head,  and,  for  the  rest,  very 


Lustucru  appears. 

cotton  night-cap  on 
simply  clad. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  "  he  dema 


nded. 


60 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


^'  I  see  now,"  answered  Mother  Michel ;  "  it  is  the 
bust  of  Louis  XIV.  that  has  fallen  down." 

"  Bah  !  "  said  Father  Lustucru,  playing  astonish- 
ment. "  But,  in  that  case,  your  cat  must  have  re- 
ceived it  on  his  head." 

As  he  said  these  words,  Moumouth  came  out  ft^om 

under  the  bed 
and  threw  him- 
s  e  1  f  before 
Mother  Michel, 
as  if  to  implore 
her  aid  and  pro- 
tection. Lustu- 
cru  stood  amazed. 
Everybody 

Moumouth  comes  forth  kuOWS   llOW    liffllt 

is  the  slumber  of  cats.  Moumouth.  who  had  the 
habit  of  sleeping  with  only  one  eye,  had  risen  quickly 
on  hearing  a  rustling  behind  the  round  window. 
Like  nearly  all  animals,  he  was  curious,  and  sought 
to  understand  anything  that  astonished  him  ;  so  he 
camped  himself  in  the  middle  of  the  chamber,  the 
better  to  observe  with  what  intention  the  wolf-head 
advanced  at  that  unseasonable  hour  by  so  unusual  a 
route.  Startled  by  the  fall  of  the  bust,  he  had  fled 
for  refuge  to  the  bottom  of  the  alcove. 

They  gave  Mother  Michel,  to  revive  her,  a  glass  of 
sugar  and  water,  flavored  with  ornnge-flower ;  they 
picked  up  the  great  king,  who  had  smashed  his  nose 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  61 

and  chin,  and  lost  half  of  his  beautiful  peruke  ;  then 
everybody  went  to  bed  once  more. 

"  Saved  again  !  "  said  Father  Lustucru  to  himself 
"  He  always  escapes  me  !  1  shall  not  be  able,  then, 
to  send  him  to  his  fathers  before  the  return  of  the 
Countess  !  Mother  Michel  will  get  her  pension  of 
fifteen  hundred  livres,  and  I  shall  remain  a  nobody, 
the  same  as  before.     That  rascally  cat  distrusts  me  ; 

everything  I  undertake  alone  against  him  fails 

Decidedly,  I  must  get  somebody  to  help  me  !  " 


Mother   Michel   is  revived. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


HOW   FATHER    LUSTUCRU    CONFIDES    HIS    ODIOUS    PLANS 
TO    NICHOLAS    FARIBOLE. 

ATHER  LUSTUCRU  searched 
for  an  accomplice.  He  at  first 
thought  of  finding  one  among 
the  domestics  of  the  household  ; 
but  he  reflected  that  they  all 
were  devoted  to  Mother  Michel, 
and  were  capable  of  betraying 
>';^^^-.^^t^  -  him,  and  causing  him*  to  be 
shamefully  turned  out  of  the  mansion,  in  which  he 
held  so  honorable  and  lucrative  a  post.  However,  he 
had  great  desire  for  an  accomplice.  In  what  class, 
of  what  age  and  sex,  and  on  what  terms  should  he 
select  one  ? 

Occupied  with  these  thoughts,  Lustucru  went  out 
one  morning  at  about  half-past  six,  to  take  a  walk  on 
the  quay.  As  he  crossed  the  threshold,  he  noticed 
on  the  other  side  of  the  street  a  large  woman,  dry 
and  angular,  clothed  in  cheap,  flashy  colors.  This 
woman  had  sunken  eyes,  a  copper-colored  complex- 
ion, the  nose  of  a  bird  of  prey,  and  a  face  as  wrinkled 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


63 


as  an  old  apple.  She  was  talking  with  a  boy  of  thir- 
teen or  fourteen,  covered  with  rags,  but  possessino-  a 
sharp,  intelligent  countenance. 

Father  Lustucru   thought    he   recognized    the   old 
woman,    but    without    recalling 
where   he  had  seen   her.     If  he 
had  been  less  occupied  he  would 
have    searched  longer 
into  his  memory ;   but 
the     idea     of    making 
away  with  the  cat  ab- 
sorbed  him  entirely, 
and  he  continued 
his  route  with  a 
thoughtful    air, 
his    head    bent 
f  0  r  w  a  r  d ,     his 
arms    crossed 
upon  his  breast, 
and    his    eyes 
fixed    upon    the 
ground,    as    if     "^J* 
the     accomplice  ""'^  °''  ''°"^"  ^"'  ^'^  '°^ 

he  wanted  might  possibly  spring  up  out  of  tlie 
earth. 

Thus  he  wandered  for  some  time  ;  the  breeze  of 
the  morning  failed  to  cool  his  blood,  heated  with  evil 
passions.  Neither  the  spectacle  of  the  pure  skies, 
nor  the  songs  of  the  birds,  who  enjoyed  themselves 


64 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


LusLiiC  u  is  absorbed. 


on  the  border  of  the  river,  awoke  in  him  those  calm 
and  sweet  emotions  with  which 
they  inspire  honest  people. 

At  the  moment  when  he  re- 
turned, the  old  woman  was  no 
longer  to  be  seen;  but  the  boy 
remained  in  the  same  place, 
seated  upon  a  stone  post,  with 
his  nose  in  the  air,  regarding  the 
mansion  of  Madame  de  la  Gre- 
nouillere  very  attentively.  Lus- 
tucru  approached  him  and  ad- 
dressed him  in  these  terms :  — 
'^Wliat  are  you  doing  there, 
youngster  ?  " 

''  I  ?  Nothino;.  I  am  look- 
ing  at  that  mansion." 

'^  I  believe  that  without  diffi- 
culty ;  but  why  do  you  look  at 
it?" 

"  Because  I  find  it  handsome, 
and  would  like  to  live  in  it ;  one 
ought  to  be  happy  there." 

''  Yes,  indeed,"  answered   the 
steward,  with  emphasis  ;    ''  they 
pass    the    days     there    happily      The  Boy  on  the  stone  Post 
enough.     Who  is  that  woman  with  whom  you  were 
speaking  a  while  since  ?  " 

"  It  was  Madame  Bradamor." 


THE   SrORY   OF  A    CAT.  65 

''  Madame  Bradamor,  the  fiimous  fortune-teller, 
who  lives  below,  at  the  other  end  of  the  street?  " 

"  The  same." 

"  You  know  her  ?  " 

'^  A  little;  I  sometimes  do  errands  for  her." 

''  Ah,  ah  !  .  .  .  .  And  what  did  the  old  wizard  say 
to  you  ?  " 

"  She  said  that  if  I  could  enter  that  house  as  a 
domestic,  1  should  have  a  very  agreeable  existence." 

''  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  is  absent,  my  little 
friend,  and,  besides,  her  house  is  full." 

"  That  is  a  pity,"  said  the  boy,  drawing  a  deep 
sigh. 

Father  Lustucru  made  several  steps  as  if  to  re- 
enter, rested  his  hand  upon  the  knocker  of  the  door, 
then  turned  abruptly  and  walked  up  to  the  boy. 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

'^  Nicholas  Langlume,  the  same  as  my  father's ; 
but  I  am  more  generally  known  under  the  nickname 
of  Faribole." 

''  What  do  you  do  ?  " 

''  Nothing  ;  my  father  works  on  the  quay,  and  I, — 
I  live  from  day  to  day,  gaining  my  bread  as  I  can. 
I  run  errands,  I  sell  May-bugs  and  black-birds  and 
sparrows,  I  pick  up  nails  in  the  gutters  and  sell  them, 
1  open  the  doors  of  carriages,  I  fish  for  logs  in  the 
Seine,  I  sing  verses  in  the  streets,  T  light  lamps,  and 
sometimes  I  play  in  the  pantomimes  at  the  tlieatre  of 
Nicolet.     These  trades,  sir,  are  not  worth  much  ;  and 

5 


66 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


I  have  all  I  can  do  to  get  something  to  eat  every 
day." 

"  You  interest  me,"  replied  Father  Lustucru,  "  and 
I  've  a  wish  to  help  you  on  in  the  world.  Tell  me, 
Faribole,  have  you  a  taste  for  cooking?  " 

"  Rather  !  I  love  the  tid-bits,  but  my  means  do 
not  allow  me  "  — 

''  I  did  not  ask  you  if  you  were  fond  of  eating, 
stupid  !  1  asked  you  if  you  had  the  taste,  the  incli- 
nation, to  do  cooking." 

"  I  don't  know  ;  I  never  tried." 
"  Well,  then,  Faribole,  I  will  give  you  lessons. 
Come,  follow  me ;  I  will  clothe  you 
and  take  care  of  you  at  my  own  ex- 
pense, in  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  Mad- 
ame de  hi  Grenouil- 
lere.  She  is  a  good 
lady,  and  will  doubt- 
less retain  you  ;  but 
if  she  does  not,  your 
education   will   be 

The   steward  engages    Faribole.  COmmeUCed,         aud 

you  '11  be  able  to  place  yourself  elsewhere." 

"You  are,  then,  in  the  service  of  the  Countess?" 
"  I  am  her  steward,"  said  Father  Lustucru,  with 

dignity. 

The  eyes  of  Faribole  sparkled  with  pleasure  ;    he 

bowed  respectfully  before  the  ste\vard,  and  said  with 

warmth  :  — 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT.  G7 

"  Ah,  ho\V  much  I  owe  to  yow  !  " 
Faribole  was  installed  that  same  da}-,  and  cordiallv 
received  by  the  other  servants  of  the  household.     He 
was  a    o-ood-natured  bov,  ser- 
viceable    and    quick,    and,   al- 
though a  little  awkward  in  his 
new   clothes    and    at  his    new 
duties,  he    showed    plent\-  of 
willingness. 

"  Faribole,"  said  the  stew-  ^ 
ard  to  his  protege,  several  % 
days  afterward,  "  It  is  well  to 
let  vou  know  the  wavs  of  the 
house.  There  is  an  individual  here,  all-powerful, 
wdio  reigns  as  sovereign  master,  whose  will  is  obeyed, 
whose  whims  are  anticipated,  —  and  that  individual 
is  a  cat.  If  you  wish  to  make  your  way  in  the 
world,  it  is  necessary  to  seek  to  please  Moumouth  ; 
if  the  cat  Moumouth  accords  you  his  affections,  you 
will  also  have  that  of  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  and 

her  companion.  Mother  Michel." 
''The   cat    shall    be   my  friend. 

and    I  will    be    the  friend   of   the 

cat,"  responded   the  young  fellow. 

confidently. 

The   Cat   an^    the  T^y   become  lu    cffcCt,    llC    sllOWCrcd     OU     MOU- 

mouth  so  many  kindnesses  and 
caresses  and  attentions,  that  the  cat,  although  natu- 
rally  suspicious,   conceived    a    livel\'   attachment    for 


68  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT, 

Faribole,  followed  him  with  pleasure,  teas6d  him,  and 
invited  him  to  frolics.  Mother  Michel  was  nearly 
jealous  of  the  small  boy  ;  Father  Lustucru,  who  had 
ideas  of  his  own,  laughed  in  his  sleeve,  and  rubbed 
his  hands  together. 

The  steward,  one  evening,  ordered  Faribole  to 
come  to  his  chamber,  and  after  closing  the  door  care- 
fully and  assuring  himself  that  no  one  was  listening, 
he  said  :  — 

''  Monmouth  is  your  friend  ;  you  have  followed 
my  recommendations  exactly." 

"  I  shall  remain  in  the  house  —  is  it  not  so  ?  " 

"Probably.     You  find  yourself  very  well  here  ?" 

"Without  doubt  I  I,  who  lived  on  black  bread,  I 
make  four  good  meals  a  day.  I  had  a  wretched 
blouse,  full  of  holes,  and  patched  trousers,  and  now 
I  am  dressed  like  a  prince.  1  suffer  no  more  from 
cold,  and,  instead  of  lying  out  under  the  stars,  I  go 
to  sleep  every  night  in  ji  coiufortable  bed,  where  I 
dream  of  gingerbread  and  fimit-(^ake." 

Father  Lustucru  rested  his  chin  ou  the  palm  of 
his  right  hand,  and  fixing  his  piercing  eyes  upon 
Faribole,  said  to  him:  — 

"  Suppose  you  were  obliged  to  take  up  again  with 
the  vagabond  life  from  which  I  lifted  yoii  ?  " 

'•  1  believe  I  should  die  with  shame  !" 

"  Then  you  would  do  anything  to  preserve  your 
present  position  ?  " 

"  I  would  do  anything." 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT 


69 


"Anything?" 

"  Anything,  absolutely." 

"  Very  well.  Now,  this  is  what  I  demand  of  you 
i  m  p  e  ratively : 
Mo u mouth  fol- 
lows you  will- 
ingly ;  to-mor- 
row,  just  at 
night-fall,  you 
will  lead  him 
into  the  gar- 
den ;   you   will 

put    him    into    a  Lustucru   and    Faribole. 

sack  which  I  have  made  expressly,  and  tiuhtlv  draw 
the  cords  of  the  sack  "  — 

-''  And  then  ?  "  said  Faribole,  who  opened  his  eyes 
w^ide. 

"  We  Avill  each  arm  us  with  a  stick,  and  we  will 
beat  upon  the  sack  until  he  is  dead." 

"  Never  I  never  I  "  cried  the  poor  boy,  whose  hair 
stood  up  with  fright. 

"  Then  pack  your  bundle  quickly,  and  be  oft';  I 
turn  you  away  I  " 

"  You  turn  me  away  !  "  repeated  young  Faribole, 
lifting  up  his  hands  to  the  sky. 

"  I  do  not  give  you  five  minutes  to  be  gone  ;  you 
depend  upon  me  here,  solely  on  me." 

The  unhappy  Faribole  began  to  weep,  and  the 
steward  added,  in  a  savage  voice,  — 


0 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


"  Come,  now  !  no  faces  !  Take  off  your  clothes, 
and  put  on  your  rags,  and  disappear !  " 

Having  pronounced  these  words,  Lustucru  took 
from  a  closet  the  miserable  vestments  which  Faribole 
had  worn  the  day  of  his  installation.  The  steward 
seized  them  disdainfully  between  his  thumb  and  fore- 
finger, and  threw  them 
upon  the  floor. 

The  boy  looked  with 
an  air  of  de- 
spair at  the 
habits  he  had 
on,  compared 
t  hem  wit  h 
those  which 
lie  was  obliged 
to  resume,  and 
the  compari- 
son was  so  little  to  the  advantage  of  the  latter,  that 
he  broke  into  loud  sobs. 

However,  he  was  decided  not  to  purchase  hand- 
some clothes  at  the  price  of  a  perfidy  and  a  horrible 
murder.  He  resolutelv  threw  off  his  vest,  then  his 
neckerchief;  but  at  the  idea  of  giving  up  his  new 
shoes,  of  walking  barefoot,  as  formerly,  over  roads 
paved  with  gravel  and  broken  glass,  the  luckless 
Faribole  had  a  moment  of  hesitation. 

Father  Lustucru,  who  observed  him  closely,  profited 
by  this  circumstance  with  consummate  cunning. 


Fariboie's  Old  Clothes. 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT.  71 

'^  Foolish  fellow  I  "  said  he  ;  '^  you  refuse  happiness 
when  it  would  be  so  easy  for  you  to  retain  it.  If  I 
proposed  to  you  the  death  of  a  man,  1  could  under- 
stand, I  could  even  approve  of  your  scruples ;  but  1 
propose  that  of  a  cat  —  a  simple  cat !  What  do  you 
find  in  that  so  terrible  ?  What  is  a  cat  ?  Nothino;  — 
less  than  nothing ;  one  does  n't  attach  the  least  value 
to  the  lives  of  cats.  Inn-keepers  give  them  to  tlieir 
customers  to  eat ;  the  most  celebrated  surgeons  uuis- 
sacre  them  in  making  certain  experiments.  Cats  are 
thought  so  little  of,  that  when  a 
litter  of  six  or  seven  are  born, 
only  one  is  kept ;  the  rest  are 
tossed  into  the  river." 

^'  But  Moumouth  is  large, 
Moumouth  is  fully  grown,"  said 
Faribole  in  a  plaintive  tone  ; 
••  and  then,  you  do  not  know,  I 
love  him." 

'^  You  love  him  !  vou  dare  to 

"Only  one  is  k^pt ;    the  rest  are 

love     him  I  "    cried    the    steward        tossed  mto  the  River  ■■ 
with  inexpressible  rage.     '^  Very  well !     I  —  I  detest 
him,  and  I  wish  his  death  !  " 

''  But  what  has  he  done  to  you,  then  ?  " 
'•  What    business    is    that    to    you  ?     I    desire  his 
death,  and  that 's  enough." 

''  Mercy  for  him  !  "  cried  Faribole.  throwing  him- 
self at  the  feet  of  hard-hearted  Lustucru. 


72  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

"  No  mercy  !  "  replied  Lustiicru,  hissing  the  words 
through  his  clenched  teeth.     '*  No  mercy,  neither  for 

him  nor  lor  you.  Get  up,  de- 
part, be  oft'  this  very  instant ! 
It  rains  in  torrents  ;  you  will 
be  drenched,  you  will  die  of 
cold  this  night,  —  so  much  the 
better  !  " 

A  beating  rain,  mixed  with 
hailstones,  pattered  against  the 
window-panes,    and     the    wind 
swept  with  a  mournful   sound 
Get  up!  Depart!"  tlirouu^h  tlic  halls  of  tlic  housc. 

Then  poor  Faribole  thought  of  the  cold  that  would 
seize  him,  of  the  privations  which  awaited  him,  of  his 
few  resources,  of  his  immense  appetite,  and  liow  dis- 
agreeable it  was  to  sleep  on  the  damp  earth.  His 
evil  genius  took  possession  of  him.  and  whispered 
into  his  ear  these  Avords  of  Father  Lustucru  :  ''  What 
is  a  cat  ?  " 

"  Monsieur  Lustucru."  said  he,  weeping,  ''  do  not 
send  me  away,  I  will  do  all  that  you  wish." 

"  To-morrow,  at  night- fall,  you  will  lead  Moumouth 
into  the  garden  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  Lustucru." 

"  You  will  put  him  into  this  sack  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  Lustucru." 

"  And  you  will  beat  it  with  me  ?  " 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  73 

The  response  to  this  question  was  long  coming  ; 
Faribole  turned  pale,  his  legs  bent  under  him  ;  finally 
he  bowed  his  head,  letting  his  arms  droop  at  his  sides, 
as  if  he  had  sunk  under  the  weight  of  his  destiny, 
and  murmured,  in  a  stifled  voice  :  — 

''  Yes,  Monsieur  Lustucru." 


CHAPTER   VII. 


IN  WHICH  FATHER  LUSTUCRU  IS  OX  THE  POINT  OF 
ACCOMPLISHING  HIS  PURPOSE,  AND  MOTHER  MICHEL's 
CAT    IS    IN    AN    UNPLEASANT    PREDICAMENT. 

USTUCRU  had  fixed  the  following 
day  for  the  cruel  execution  of 
Mouniouth,  for  he  knew  that 
Mother  Michel  on  that  day  was 
to  carry  to  the  express  office 
a  package  destined  for  her  sis- 
ter. 

All  the  forenoon  and  after- 
noon Faribole  was  plunged  in  the  darkest  despond- 
ency, and  when  the  fatal  hour  sounded,  he  was  as- 
sailed by  the  irresolutions  of  the  previous  day. 
When  Mother  Michel,  before  going  out,  said  to  him, 
''  I  leave  Monmouth  in  your  charge  ;  you  must  take 
care  of  him,  and  make  him  play,  so  that  he  will  not 
fret  too  much  during  my  absence,"  the  poor  lad  felt 
his  heart  fail,  and  his  natural  loyalty  revolted. 

"  Come,  w^e  have  not  a  minute  to  lose,"  said  Father 
Lustucru  to  Faribole  ;  ''  here  is  the  sack  ;  go  look  for 
the  beast !  " 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT.  75 

Faribole  once  more  appealed  to  the  pity  of  the 
steward  ;  he  was  eloquent,  he  had  tears  in  his  voice, 
he  pronounced  a  most  touching  plea,  but  without  be- 
ing able  to  gain  his  cause.  The  executioner  was  im- 
movable ;  he  insisted  on  the  death  of  the  cat ;  and 
the  boy,  overpoAvered  by  this  evil  spirit,  saw  himself 
forced  to  obey. 

Moumouth  allowed  himself  to  be  enticed  into  the 
garden  ;  lie  followed  his  treacherous  friend  with  the 
confidence  of  the  lamb  following  the  butcher,  and,  at 
the  very  moment  when  he  least  thought  of  it,  he 
found  himself  fastened  in  the  sack  that  was  to  be  his 
tomb.  Lustucru,  who  was  hiding,  appeared  suddenly, 
bearing;  two  enormous  cudii^els  ;  he  handed  one  to  his 
accomplice,  and  taking  hold  of  the  sack,  cried  •  — 
'•  Now  I  —  to  work,  and  no  quarter  I " 

Faribole  heard  him  not  ;  the  boy  was  struck  with 
stupor  —  his  eyes  rolled  wdldly  in  their  sockets,  his 
face  was  livid,  his  mouth  open,  his  arms  without 
strength. 

Father  Lustucru,  animated  by  the  nearness  of  his 
vengeance,  did  not  remark  what  passed  in  the  mind 
of  his  companion.  Having  thrown  the  sack  rudely  on 
the  ground,  the  stew^ard  lifted  his  cudgel,  and  was 
about  to  strike  when  the  small  door  of  the  garden 
opened. 

^'How  unfortunate!"  he  muttered;  "Faribole, 
hide  yourself  in  the  hedge  ;  1  will  come  back  here 
presently." 


^  VT 


THE    STORY  OF  A   CAT. 


77 


He  approached  the  person  who  had  entered,  and 
halted,  petrified  with  amazement,  on  beholding 
Mother  Michel.  He  imagined  at  first  that  she  had 
been  brought  back  by  some  vague  suspicion,  by  some 
presentiment ;  but  he  recovered  himself,  hearing  her 
say  :  — 

"  I  am  obliged  to  postpone  my  walk,  for  I  have 
seen  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere's  carri 
it    turned    out   of  its  way  on    account 
of  the  repairs  being  made  in  the  street. 
By  reentering  through  the 
garden   I   was  able  to    tret 
here  in  advance. 
Come,     Mon- 
sieur Lustucru, 
let  us  hasten  to 
receive     our 
good  mistress." 

"  I  am  with 
you,  madame," 
said  the  stew- 
ard ;  then,  mak- 
ing a  speaking-trumpet  of  his  hand,  he  cried  to 
Faribole  :  — 

"  Strike  all  alone  !  strike  until  the  cat  has  ceased 
to  move  !  "  and  he  rejoined  Mother  Michel  in  the 
court,  where  the  domestics  were  drawn  up  in  a  hue 
like  a  well-drilled  battalion. 

On  stepping  from  the  carriage  Madame  de  la  Gre- 


Making  a   Speaking-trumpet  of  his   Hand. 


78 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


nouillere  honored  her  servitors  with  a  benevolent 
glance,  embraced  Mother  Michel  with  touching  famil- 
iarity, and  de- 
manded news 
of  Monmouth. 

"  Your  pro- 
tege is  wonder- 
fully well,"  said 
Mother  Michel, 
"he  grows  fat- 
and    hand- 


ter 

somer  under  our 
very  eyes ;  but 
it  may  be  said, 
without  injury 
to  the  truth, 
that  his  moral  qualities  are  even  beyond  his  physical 
charms." 

-'  Poor  friend,  if  he  does  not  love  me  he  will  be  a 
monster  of  ingratitude,  for  since  our  separation  I 
have  thought  of  him  constantly ;  Heaven  has  taken 
away  many  beings  that  were  dear  to  me,  but  Mon- 
mouth will  be  the  consolation  of  my  old  age  !  " 

As  soon  as  the  Countess  had  given  the  orders  which 
her  arrival  made  necessary,  she  prayed  Mother  Michel 
to  fetch  Monmouth. 

''  He  will  be  charmed  to  see  you  again,  madame," 
Mother  Michel  answered  ;  '"he  is  in  the  garden  in 
the  care  of  Faribole,  a  little  young  man  whom  your 


The   Countess  embraces    Mother    Miche 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


79 


Faribole  seated  in  the   Garden. 


steward  judged  proper  to  admit  to  the  house  ;  the 
young  rogue  and  the  cat  have  become  a  pair  of  inti- 
mate friends." 

Mother  Michel  went  down  to  the  garden  and  there 
found  Faribole  alone,  seated 
upon  a  bench,  and  with  a  pre- 
occupied  air  stripping  the 
leaves  from  a  branch  of  box- 
wood which  he  held  in  his 
hand. 

''  My  friend,"  said  the  good 
woman,  "  Madame,  the  Count- 
ess, desires  you  to  bring  Monmouth  to  her." 

^'  Mou-mouth  !  "  stammered  Faribole,  starting  at 
the  name  as  if  he  had  been  stung  by  a  wasp. 

"  Yes,  Monmouth  ;  T  thought  he  w^as  with  you." 

'*  He  just  quitted  me  ;  some  persons  passing  in  the 
street  made  a  noise  that  frightened  him.  and  he 
leaped  into  the  hedge." 

Mother  Michel,  after  having  spent  more  than  half 
an  hour  in  scouring  the  garden,  returned  to  Madame 
de  la  Grenouillere  and  said  :  ''  Monmouth  is  absent, 
madame  ;  but  do  not  be  anxious ;  he  disappeared 
once  before,  and  we  found  him  in  the  garret." 

''  Let  him  be  searched  for!  I  do  not  wish  to  wait. 
I  desire  to  see  him  this  instant !  " 

Alas  !  this  desire  was  not  likely  to  be  gratified,  if 
any  reliance  could  be  placed  upon  the  words  ex- 
changed in  the  dark  between  Lustucru  and  his  ac- 
complice. 


80  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

^' Well,  did  you  do  it?" 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  Lustucru,  I  pounded  until  the  cat 
ceased  to  move." 

"  What  have  you  done  with  the  body  ?  " 

"  I  have  thrown  it  into  the  Seine." 

"  Was  he  quite  dead  ?  " 

"He  didn't  stir." 

"  Anyway,  the  sack  was  securely  fastened.  Justice 
is  done  !  " 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

IN    WHICH    MOTHER    MICHEL     SEARCHES     FOR    HER    CAT. 

EVERAL  days  passed  in  painful 
expectation ;  but  the  cat,  like 
General  Marlborough,  did  not 
come  back.  The  despair  of 
Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  was 
sincere,  profound,  and  silent, — 
all  the  more  intense  because  it 
was  suppressed.  She  continu- 
all}'  pictured  to  herself  the 
charming  ways  of  Monmouth,  his  natural  goodness, 
his  superior  intelligence.  No  animal  had  ever  dis- 
played to  her  so  many  brilliant  qualities ;  not  one  of 
her  previous  favorites  had  ever  caused  her  such  bitter 
regrets. 

Generous  in  her  misfortune,  she  did  not  reproacli 
Mother  Michel ;  on  the  contrary,  the  Countess  sought 
to  comfort  that  poor  woman,  who  had  given  herself 
up  wholly  to  grief.  The  Countess  said  to  her  one 
night :  — 

^*  What  can  you  do  against  an  irresistible  calamity  ? 
The  wisdom  of  man  consists  not  in  struggling  with 


82  THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

imhappiness,  but  in  submitting  himself  to  the  will  of 
Heaven." 

"  I  am  of  your  opinion,"  replied  Mother  Michel. 
"  If  I  believed,  like  you,  in  the  death  of  Moumouth, 
I  would  resign  myself  without  a  murmur.  But  I 
have  the  idea  that  he  still  lives ;  I  picture  him  run- 
ning through  the  streets,  the  victim  of  ill  treatment, 
with  saucepans,  may  be  "  — 

"  Go  to.  Mother  Michel,  you  deceive  yourself; 
Moumouth  is  dead,  otherwise  he  would  have  come 
back  to  us." 

"  Something  tells  me  that  he  is  still  in  this  world, 
and  if  Madame  the  Countess  wishes  to  have  tidino-s  of 
him,  she  has  only  to  address  herself"  — 

"  To  whom  ?  " 

"  To  our  neighbor,  Madame  Bradamor,  that  cele- 
brated fortune-teller,  who  predicts  the  future,  removes 
freckles,  reads  in  the  Book  of  Destinies,  and  charms 
away  the  toothache." 

"  Fie,  Mother  Michel  !  how  can  you,  a  sensible 
woman,  have  any  confidence  in  the  juggling  of  an 
adventuress  ?  " 


"  But,  madame,  I  am  not  alone  ;  the  most  distin- 
guished people  go  to  Madame  Bradamor  ;  she  is  more 
learned  and  less  dear  than  her  rivals,  and  asks  only 
ten  crowns  to  make  you  behold  the  devil  Astaroth." 

"  Enough,  for  pity's  sake  !  "  responded  the  Count- 
ess, dryly. 

Mother  Michel  remained  silent ;  but  she  had  made 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT  83 

up  her  mind,  and,  the  first  time  she  had  a  moment 
of  Hberty,  she  ran  to  the  house  of  the  necromancer. 

The  fortune-teller  occupied  a  spacious  apartment 
richly  furnished,  for  she  gained  a  great  deal  of  money 
by  cheating  the  public.  Her  consultation-room  was 
draped  with  hangings  of  black  velvet  sprinkled  with 
gilt  stars  ;  upon  a  square  table,  in  the  centre  of  the 
chamber,  stood  painted  tin  oljelisks,  jars  of  electricity, 
retorts,  and  divers  mathematical  instruments,  of 
whose  uses  the  pretended  sorceress  was  quite  igno- 
rant, but  which  she  had  placed  there  in  order  to 
impose  on  the  weak-minded  persons  who  came  to 
consult  her. 

She  at  first  showed  some  embarrassment  on  be- 
holding Mother  Michel  ;  however,  after  having  closed 
a  glass  door  which  communicated  with  the  other 
apartments,  she  returned  to  salute  her  new  client, 
and  said  in  a  solemn  tone  :  — 

'^  What  is  your  desire  ?  " 

"  To  question  the  present,  the  past,  and  the 
future." 

'•I  am  the  very  one  to  satisfy  you,"  replied  Madame 
Bradamor  ;  ^^  but  what  you  demand  is  very  difficult, 
and  will  cost  you  three  crowns." 

'-  There  they  are  ;  I  give  them  to  you  with  all  my 
heart." 

Madame  Bradamor,  full  of  regret  that  she  had  not 
insisted  on  having  more,  pocketed  the  money,  and 
began  in  these  terms  :  — 


84 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


"  What  is  the  date  of  your  birth  ?  " 
''  The  24th  of  May,  1698." 

''  What  are  the  initials  of  your  name  and  the  first 
letter  of  the  place  in  which  you  were  born  ?  " 


Mother  Michel  pays  Three  Crowns. 

^'  A,  R,  M,  N,  L,  S." 

Madame  Michel  was  named  Anastasie  Ravegot ; 
the  widow,  since  twelve  years,  of  Francois  Michel,  in 
life  inspector  of  butter  in  the  Paris  markets ;  she 
was  born  in  Noisy-le-Sec. 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  85 

"  What  is  your  favorite  flower  ?  " 

"  The  Jerusalem  artichoke." 

After  these  customary  questions,  the  fortune-teller 
examined  some  coffee-grounds  poured  into  a  saucer, 
and  said  :  — 

'^  Phaldarus,  the  genie  of  things  unknown,  informs 
me  that  you  are  in  search  of  a  being  very  dear  to 
you. 

Mother  Michel  bounded  in  her  chair  with  surprise. 

Madame  Bradamor  continued  :  '^  This  being  is  not  a 
man  ;  it  is  a  quadruped  —  either  a  dog  or  a  cat. 
Ariel,  spirit  celestial,  reveals  to  me  that  it  is  a  cat." 

Mother  Michel  was  more  and  more  impressed  ; 
without  giving  her  time  to  recover  herself,  the  for- 
tune-teller took  a  pack  of  cards,  shuffled  them,  cut 
them  three  times,  then  disposed  them  in  a  systematic 
order  on  the  table,  and  said  gravely  :  — 

'-  Your  cat  is  the  knave  of  clubs ;  let  us  see  what 
happens  to  him.  One,  two,  three,  four ;  ten  of 
spades !  He  is  a  wanderer,  he  has  a  passion  for 
travel,  he  sets  out  at  night  to  see  the  curiosities  of 
Paris.  One,  two,  three,  four  ;  the  queen  of  spades  I 
It  is  a  woman  who  manufactures  ermine  -fur  out  of 
cat-skin.  One,  two,  three,  four  ;  the  knave  of  spades  I 
It  is  a  rag-picker.  One,  two,  three,  four ;  the  king 
of  spades  !  It  is  a  restaurant-keeper.  The  falling 
together  of  these  three  persons  alarms  me.  One, 
two,  three,  four,  —  clubs  I  One,  two,  three,  four, — 
clubs  again!     One,  two,  three,  four,  —  always  chibs. 


S6 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


Your  cat  would  bring  money  to  these  three  persons  : 
the  rag-picker  wishes  to  kill  him  in  order  to  sell  the 
skin  to  the  furrier,  and  the  body  to  the  restaurant- 
keeper,  who  will  serve  it  up  to  his  customers  as 
stewed  rabbit.     Will  the    cat    be    able  to    resist   his 


The  Fortune-teller  consults  her  Cards. 


persecutors.     One,  two,  three,  four;  seven  of  spades! 
It  is  all  over,  madame;  your  cat  no  longer  exists!  " 

''  They  have  eaten  him.  the  cannibals !  "  cried 
Mother  Michel,  sinking  back,  and  she  fancied  she 
heard  a  plaintive  mlau,  the  last  agonized  cry  of  Mou- 
mouth.  But  it  was  not  an  illusion ;  a  cat  had 
miaued,  and  was  still  miauing  in  the  next  chamber. 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT. 


8' 


Suddenly  a  pane  of  glass  in  the  door  described  was 
shivered  to  atoms,  and  Monmouth  in  person  tumbled 
at  the  feet  of  Mother  Micliel. 

From  the  top  of  a  wardrobe  he  had  perceived  his 
affectionate  guardian  ;  he  had  called  to  her  several 
times,  and  as 
she  did  not  an- 
swer him,  he 
h  a  d  thro  w  n 
himself,  in  his 
desperation, 
against  the 
glass  door, 
tlj  rough  which 
he  had  broken 
a  passage. 

"  My  cat  was 


w 


ith 


you 


Moumouth  appears. 


said  Mother  Michel ;  "  you  have  stolen  him  !  My 
mistress  is  powerful ;  my  mistress  is  the  Countess 
Yolande  de  la  Grenouillere;  she  will  have  you  chas- 
tised as  you  deserve  to  be!" 

While  making  these  threats  Mother  Michel  placed 
Moumouth  under  her  arm,  and  prepared  to  depart. 
Madame  Bradamor  stopped  her,  saying  :  — 

''Do  not  ruin  me,  I  conjure  you!  I  have  not 
stolen  your  cat !  " 

"  How  is  it  in  your  house,  then  ?  " 

"  I  have  it  from  a  little  boy  named  Faribole  ;  he 


88 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


got  this  cat  for  me,  which  I  have  long  desired  to 
have,  on  account  of  his  supernatural  shape  and  ap- 
pearance, to  figure  in  my  cabalistic  conjurations. 
This  is  the  truth,  the  whole  truth.  I  beg  of  you  that 
your  mistress  will  not  disturb  me." 

"  Madame    the    Countess   will   act   as   she    thinks 


Do  not  ruin  me,   I  conjure  you 


proper,"  responded  Mother  Michel,  haughtily ;    and 
she  vanished  with  her  cat. 

She  made  but  one  step  from  the  house  of  Madame 
Bradamor  to  that  of  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere ;  one 
would  have  said  that  Mother  Michel  had  on  the 
seven-league  boots  of  little  Tom  Thumb.  She  did 
not  linger  in  the  parlor,  when  she  arrived  out  of 


THE   STORY   OF  A    CAT.  89 

breath  and  unable  to  speak  a  word,  but  carried  Mon- 
mouth straight  to  the  Countess. 

On  recognizing  the  animal,  the  Countess  gave  so 
loud  a  cry  of  joy  that  it  was  heard  as  far  as  the  Place 
de  la  Carrousel. 

Lustucru  assisted  at  this  touching  scene.  At  the 
sight  of  the  cat  he  was  so  dumbfounded  that  his 
reason  wavered  for  a  moment.  He  imagined  that 
the  cat,  so  many  times  saved,  was  a  fantastic  being, 
capable  of  speaking,  like  the  beasts  in  the  fairy-tales, 
and  he  said  to  himself  with  a  shiver :  "  I  am  lost ! 
Mourn outh  is  going  to  denounce  me  !  " 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WHICH     IS     SATISFACTORY     TO     EVERYBODY      BUT     THE 

GUILTY. 

S  soon  as  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere 
learned  how  Moumouth  had  been 
recovered,  she  ordered  young  Fari- 
bole  to  be  brought  before  her. 

"  I  '11  go  and  look  him  np,"  said 
Father    Lnstncrn,    with    alacrity. 
He  was  very  anxious    to   warn  his  accomplice,   and 
sought  an  excuse  to  steal  off. 

"  No,  remain  !  You  have  admitted  him  to  the 
mansion,  you  shall  see  him  turned  away,  and  will 
learn  to  bestow  your  confidence  more  wiselv  in 
future." 

Lustucru  remained,  and,  recovering  from  his  first 
stupor,  resolved  to  boldly  deny  everything,  if  Fari- 
bole  should  dare  to  accuse  him. 

Introduced  into  the  parlor,  Faribole  did  not  wait 
to  be  interrogated. 

"  Madame  the  Countess,"  said  he,  "  the  presence 
of  your  cat  tells  me  why  you  have  called  me  ;  but 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  93 

I  am  less  guilty  than  I  appear ;  permit  me  to  ex- 
plain." 

"  It  is  useless,"  replied  Madame  de  la  Grenouill^re  ; 
^' your  justification  is  impossible." 

'-  The  steward,  believing  it  best  to  play  a  bold 
game,  said  with  irony  :  — 

*•  I  am  curious  to  know  what  unlikely  story  this 
rogue  has  to  tell,"  and  in  accenting  these  words 
slowly  he  gave  Faribole  a  glance  which  signified : 
"  If  you  accuse  me,  woe  to  you  ! ' " 

Without  allowing  himself  to  be  confused,  Faribole 
commenced  in  these  terms :  — 

'^  It  is  necessary  to  avow  it,  madame ;  I  entered 
into  your  service  with  the  intention  of  stealing  your 
cat ;  the  fortune-teller  wished  to  have  him,  to  make 
him  play  the  part  of  the  devil  Astaroth ;  and  she  had 
seduced  me  by  the  promise  of  a  crown  of  six  livres 
and  a  pair  of  shoes.  They  treated  me  so  well,  and 
Monmouth  appeared  to  me  so  charming,  that  I  re- 
nounced my  wicked  plans ;  I  never,  no,  never  would 
have  put  them  into  execution,  if  I  had  not  found  it 
was  necessary  to  get  Monmouth  out  of  the  way  in 
order  to  rescue  him  from  the  attacks  of  an  enemy  all 
the  more  terrible  because  he  was  hidden." 

"  Of  whom  does  he  wish  to  speak  ?  "  demanded 
Lustucru. 

"  Of  you!  of  you  who  have  said  to  me,  '  Kill  Moa- 
mouth,  or  I  chase  you  from  the  house  ! ' " 

^'  I,  I  have  said  that !  what  an  impudent  falsehood  1 


94 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT. 


Ah,  Madame  the  Countess,  you  know  me  well  enough 
not  to  hesitate  between  the  declarations  of  this  fellow 
and  my  flat  denial." 

'^  Faribole,"  said  the  Countess  severely,  "  your 
charge  is  grave ;  can  you  brhig  any  proof  to  support 
it?" 

*•'  Proof,  alas !  no,  madame ;  but  I  am  ready  to 
swear  to  you  "  — 

^'  Enough,"  interrupted  the  Countess ;  "  do  not 
add  calumny  to  the  theft  of  the  cat,  but  deliver  me 
of  your  presence." 

The  miserable  Faribole  wished  to  protest,  but  at  a 
sisn  from  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere,  Lustucru  seized 

him  by  the  arm.  led  hhn  through 
the  door  without  further  cere- 
and  treated  hiui  in  so 
I  manner  on  the  stair- 
case as  to  quite  relieve  him  of 
any  idea  of  asking  for  his  per- 
sonal effects. 

However,  the'  iniquities  of 
the  ste^v^rd  were  not  to  remain 
long  unpunished;  that  same 
day.  Mother  Michel,  in  arrang- 
ing the  closet  in  the  antechamber,  was  very  much 
astonished  at  finding  the  bodies  of  several  dead  rats 
and  mice  ;  she  was  wondering  what  had  caused  their 
death,  when  she  recognized  the  famous  hash  that  the 
cat  had  refused  to  eat,  and  which  had  been  left  there 


mony. 
rough 


Faribole    is   treated   Roughly  on  the 
Staircase. 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  95 

by  mistake.     Two  mice  were  dead  in  the  plate  itself, 
so  powerful  and  subtile  was  the  poison  ! 

This  discovery  tore  away  the  veil  which  covered 
the  past  of  Lustucru.  Mother  Michel,  divininf^  that 
the  charges  of  Faribole  were  well  founded,  hastened 
to  inform  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere,  who  recom- 
mended her  to  keep  silent,  and  sent  for  the  steward. 

"  Have  you  still  the  '  Death  to  Rats  ?'  "  she  asked 
him. 

''  Yes,  madame,  I  think  I  have  a  little  left." 

"  Some  should  be  placed  in  the  antechamber;  you 
have  not  thought  of  that  before  ?  " 

"  Never,  madame ;  I  did  not  know  there  were  rats 
in  that  part  of  the  house." 

"^  Very  well  ;  you  can  retire." 

Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  wrote  to  a  celebrated 
chemist,  who,  after  having   ana- 
lyzed the  hash,  declared  that  it 
contained  a   prodigious   quantity 
of  poison. 

The    crime    of    Lustucru    was 
then    evident ;   but   other  proofs 

were     not     long     in       rising      against     ^   celebrated    Cher^lst    analyzes 

him.     The  adventure  of  Croque-  ^"^^  ^''^ 

mouche  and  Guignolet  was  talked  about  among  the 
boatmen  ;  Faribole  heard  the  story  from  one  of  them, 
and    discovered    a    person    who    had    seen    Lustucru 
throw  Monmouth  from  the  bridge  of  Notre  Dame. 
The  steward,  confounded,  did  not  wait  to  be  dis- 


r 


\  ( r 


THE   STORY  OF  A    CAT.  97 

charged ;  he  fled,  and,  to  escape  the  vengeance  of 
Madame  de  la  Grenouillere,  embarked  as  cook  on 
board  of  a  merchant  vessel  bound  for  Oceanica. 

It  was  afterward  learned  that  this  ship  had  been 
wrecked  upon  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  that  the 
savages  had  eaten  Lustucru. 
History  records  that  at  the 
moment  of  expiring  he  pro- 
nounced but  a  single  w^ord, 
the  name  of  Moumouth  ! 

What  was  it  that  brought 
this  name  to  the  lips  of  the 
guilty  man  ?  Was  it  remorse  ?  or  w^as  it  the  last  ex- 
plosion of  an  unforgiving  hatred  ?  This  is  what  his- 
tory has  neglected  to  inform  us. 

The  health  of  Madame  de  la  Grenouillere  had  been 
altered  by  the  heavy  shocks  she  had  experienced  in 
losing  her  favorite  animals.  The  tenderness  and 
graces  of  Moumouth  would  perhaps  have  been  suffi- 
cient to  attach  her  to  life  ;  but  the  respectable  lady 
had  reached  an  age  when  sorrows  press  very  heavily. 
Mother  Michel  had  the  grief,  one  morning,  to  find 
the  Countess  dead  in  her  bed  ;  her  face  was  so  calm 
and  bore  so  plainly  the  impress  of  all  her  lovable 
qualities,  that  one  would  have  believed  she  slept. 
She  was  nearly  in  her  seventy-ninth  year. 

By  her  will,  which  she  had  deposited  with  her 
lawyer,  she  had  left  to  Moumouth  and  Mother  Michel 


98  THE  STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

an  income  of  two  thousand  livres,  to  revert,  in  case 
of  the  death  of  either,  to  the  survivor. 

Mother  Michel  took  up  her  residence  near  her 
sister,  provided  handsomely  for  all  the  children,  and 
selected  for  her  own  retreat  a  pretty  cottage  situated 
in  Low-Breton  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  among 

the  green  trees. 

Faribole,  received 
again  into  the  service 
of  Madame  de  la 
Grenouillere,  con- 
ducted hhnself  so 
well  that  his  tran- 
sient   error  was    for- 

Mother  Michels  Cottage  CTOtteU.  Hc         WOUld 

o 

have  been  able  to  distinguish  himself  in  the  kitchen, 
but  he  preferred  to  serve  the  State,  and  enlisted  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  in  an  infantry  regiment.  He  took 
part  in  the  expedition  against  Majorca  under  the 
command  of  Marshal  Richelieu,  and  was  named  cor- 
poral after  the  capture  of  Port-Mahon,  June  the  29th, 
1756.  When  he  obtained  his  discharge,  he  returned 
to  live  near  Mother  Michel,  for  wdiom  he  had  an 
affection  truly  filial.  To  the  agitations  of  their  exist- 
ence succeeded  calm  and  happy  days,  embellished  by 
the  constantly  increasing  graces  of  Moumouth. 

Our  cat  henceforth  w^as  without  an  enemy  ;  he 
won,  on  the  contrary,  the  esteem  and  affection  of  all 
who  knew  him.     His  adventures  had  made  him  quite 


TOO  THE  STORY  OF  A    CAT. 

famous.  Besides  the  ballad,  —  of  which,  unfor- 
tunately, only  two  couplets  have  been  preserved, — 
the  poets  of  the  period  wrote  in  his  honor  a  large 
number  of  verses  that  have  not  come  down  to  us. 
He  received  visits  from  the  most  distinguished  men 
of  the  time,  even  from  the  King  himself,  who  once, 
on  his  way  to  the  Chateau  of  Bellevue,  dropped  in 
for  a  moment  on  Moumouth. 

A  grand  lady  of  the  court  condescended  to  choose 
for  Moumoutb  a  very  gentle  and  very  pretty  com- 
panion, whom  he  accepted  with  gratitude.  In  see- 
ing himself  a  father  Monmouth's  happiness  was  at 
its  highest,  as  was  also  that  of  Mother  Michel,  who 
felt  that  she  lived  again  in  the  posterity  of  her  cat. 

You  wish  to  know  what  finally  became  of  Mou- 
mouth ?  He  died,  —  but  it  was  not  until  after  a  long 
and  joyous  career.  His  eyes,  in  closing,  looked  with 
sweet  satisfaction  upon  groups  of  weeping  children 
and  grandchildren.  His  mortal  remains  were  not 
treated  like  those  of  ordinary  cats.  Mother  Michel 
had  built  for  him  a  magnificent  mausoleum  of  white 
marble.  Following  a  cnstom  then  adopted  at  the 
burial  of  all  illustrious  personages,  they  engraved 
upon  the  tomb  of  Moumouth  an  epitaph  in  Latin, 
composed  by  a  learned  professor  of  the  University 
of  Paris. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL   BE   ASSESSED    FOR    FAILURE  TO    RETURN 
THIS    BOOK    ON    THE    DATE    DUE.    THE    PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY     AND     TO     $1.00     ON     THE     SEVENTH     DAY 
OVERDUE. 

■^M^W^-.■\^ 

M 

■'     '  •:t.. 

' 

LD  21-100m-12, '43  (8796s) 

H  i  O  H-  '1  i 


^5U 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


